Broadcast receiving system and method for processing broadcast signals

ABSTRACT

A broadcast receiving system capable of receiving mobile broadcast data and a method for processing broadcast signals are disclosed. The broadcast receiving system includes N number of antenna elements, a demodulator, a transmission parameter detector, and a block decoder. The N number of antenna elements receives each of the broadcast signals. The demodulator demodulates the broadcast signal having greater signal strength among each of the received broadcast signals. The transmission parameter detector detects the transmission parameter. The block decoder symbol-decodes the mobile broadcast service data included in the received broadcast signal in block units, based upon the detected transmission parameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,337, which issuedon Nov. 20, 2012, from U.S. application Ser. No. 12/165,534, filed onJun. 30, 2008, which claims the benefit of earlier filing date and rightof priority to the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0065765, filedon Jun. 29, 2007, and also claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/957,714, filed on Aug. 24, 2007, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/974,084, filed on Sep. 21, 2007, the contents of allof which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entiretiesentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving system, and moreparticularly, to a telematics terminal capable of receiving broadcastdata and a method for processing broadcast signals.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Telematics is a compound word that stems from the terms“telecommunication” and “informatics”. Herein, telematics consists of ablending of diverse technologies including wireless telecommunication,computers, internet, and other multimedia industries. A telematicsterminal may use a position measuring system and a wirelesstelecommunications network, so as to provide traffic information,guidance instructions in case of emergency situations, remote vehiclediagnosis, and internet services to drivers and passengers of a vehicle.In a wireless broadcast receiving and transmitting system, the broadcastsignal receiving performance may vary depending upon the environment (orcondition).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a telematics terminalcapable of receiving broadcast data and a method for processingbroadcast signals that substantially obviate one or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a telematics terminaland a method for processing broadcast signals, wherein the telematicsterminal is capable of receiving mobile broadcast services.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telematicsterminal and a method for processing broadcast signals, wherein thetelematics terminal is capable of receiving a plurality of mobilebroadcast services using diversity reception and processing the receivedmobile broadcast services.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, abroadcast receiving system includes N number of antenna elements, ademodulator, a transmission parameter detector, and a block decoder. TheN number of antenna elements receives each of the broadcast signals. Thedemodulator demodulates the broadcast signal having greater signalstrength among each of the received broadcast signals. The broadcastsignal includes mobile broadcast service data. The mobile broadcastservice data configures a data group. The data group is divided into aplurality of regions. N number of known data sequences are inserted insome regions among the plurality of regions within the data group. Atransmission parameter is inserted between a first known data sequenceand a second known data sequence, among the N number of known datasequences. The transmission parameter detector detects the transmissionparameter. The block decoder symbol-decodes the mobile broadcast servicedata included in the received broadcast signal in block units, basedupon the detected transmission parameter.

The broadcast receiving system further includes a position informationmodule, and a navigation unit. The position information module generatescurrent position information of the broadcast receiving system. Thenavigation unit performs at least one of travel route search, mapmatching, and travel route guidance by using the generated currentposition information and map information.

The broadcast receiving system further includes a known sequencedetector, and a channel equalizer. The known sequence detector detectsknown data included in the received broadcast signal. The channelequalizer channel-equalizes the received mobile broadcast service datausing the detected known data.

The broadcast receiving system further includes a RS frame decoderperforming CRC-decoding and RS-decoding on the mobile broadcast servicedata, thereby correcting errors occurred in the mobile broadcast servicedata.

The broadcast receiving system further includes a transmissionparameter, and a power controller. The transmission parameter detectordetects transmission parameters inserted in predetermined positionswithin each of the data group. The power controller controls power basedupon the detected transmission parameters, thereby receiving a datagroup including requested mobile broadcast service data.

The broadcast receiving system further includes a de-randomizerde-randomizes the symbol-decoded mobile broadcast service data.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block view showing a conceptual view of atelematics system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services via multiple channels and process the receivedmobile broadcast services, thereby demodulating, decoding, andoutputting the processed mobile broadcast services, according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of a signal selector/receiver accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of a signal selector/receiver accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of a signal selector/receiver accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed block view of a synchronization unit and amobile broadcast service data processor according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 respectively illustrate a data group structure anddata configuration prior to and after data deinterleaving according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services via multiple antenna elements and select andoutput one of the received mobile broadcast services as a single signal,thereby demodulating and decoding and, at the same time, outputting theprocessed signal according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services via multiple antenna elements and select andoutput one of the received mobile broadcast services as a single signal,thereby demodulating and decoding and, at the same time, outputting theprocessed signal according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart showing process steps of a method forprocessing broadcast signals according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a structure of a MPH frame for transmitting andreceiving mobile broadcast service data according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary structure of a VSB frame;

FIG. 15 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina space region;

FIG. 16 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina time region;

FIG. 17 illustrates an alignment of data after being data interleavedand identified;

FIG. 18 illustrates an enlarged portion of the data group shown in FIG.17 for a better understanding of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates an alignment of data before being data interleavedand identified;

FIG. 20 illustrates an enlarged portion of the data group shown in FIG.19 for a better understanding of the present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary assignment order of data groups beingassigned to one of 5 sub-frames according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of multiple data groups of a singleparade being assigned (or allocated) to an MPH frame;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of transmitting 3 parades to an MPH frameaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates an example of expanding the assignment process of 3parades to 5 sub-frames within an MPH frame;

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing a general structure of adigital broadcast transmitting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of a servicemultiplexer;

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of a transmitteraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of apre-processor according to the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a conceptual block diagram of the MPH frame encoderaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a detailed block diagram of an RS frame encoderamong a plurality of RS frame encoders within an MPH frame encoder;

FIG. 31(a) and FIG. 31(b) illustrate a process of one or two RS framebeing divided into several portions, based upon an RS frame mode value,and a process of each portion being assigned to a corresponding regionwithin the respective data group;

FIG. 32(a) to FIG. 32(c) illustrate error correction encoding and errordetection encoding processes according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 33 illustrates an example of performing a row permutation (orinterleaving) process in super frame units according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 34(a) and FIG. 34(b) illustrate an example of creating an RS frameby grouping data, thereby performing error correction encoding and errordetection encoding;

FIG. 35(a) and FIG. 35(b) illustrate an exemplary process of dividing anRS frame for configuring a data group according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a block diagram of a block processor according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a convolution encoder ofthe block processor of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 illustrates a symbol interleaver of the block processor of FIG.36;

FIG. 39 illustrates a block diagram of a group formatter according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 illustrates a detailed diagram of one of 12 trellis encodersincluded in the trellis encoding module of FIG. 27;

FIG. 41 illustrates an example of assigning signaling information areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a signaling encoderaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a syntax structure of TPC dataaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 44 illustrates an example of power saving of in a receiver whentransmitting 3 parades to an MPH frame level according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 45 illustrates an example of a transmission scenario of the TPCdata and the FIC data level according to the present invention;

FIG. 46 illustrates an example of a training sequence at the byte levelaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 47 illustrates an example of a training sequence at the symbolaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition,although the terms used in the present invention are selected fromgenerally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in thedescription of the present invention have been selected by the applicantat his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of which are describedin relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is requiredthat the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual termsused but by the meaning of each term lying within.

Among the terms used in the present invention, mobile broadcast servicedata correspond to data being transmitted through a broadcastingnetwork. Herein, the mobile broadcast service data may include at leastone of mobile broadcast service data, pedestrian broadcast service data,and handheld broadcast service data, and are collectively referred to asmobile broadcast service data for simplicity. Herein, the mobilebroadcast service data not only correspond to mobile/pedestrian/handheldbroadcast service data (M/P/H broadcast service data) but may alsoinclude any type of broadcast service data with mobile or portablecharacteristics. Therefore, the mobile broadcast service data accordingto the present invention are not limited only to the M/P/H broadcastservice data.

The above-described mobile broadcast service data may correspond to datahaving information, such as program execution files, stock information,weather forecast information, traffic information, and so on, and mayalso correspond to A/V data, such as TV series or movies. Finally, themobile broadcast service data may also correspond to audio-specificdata, such as music programs. Also, the mobile broadcast service datamay include weather forecast services, traffic information services,stock information services, viewer participation quiz programs,real-time polls and surveys, interactive education broadcast programs,gaming services, services providing information on synopsis, character,background music, and filming sites of soap operas or series, servicesproviding information on past match scores and player profiles andachievements, and services providing information on product informationand programs classified by service, medium, time, and theme enablingpurchase orders to be processed. Herein, the present invention is notlimited only to the services mentioned above.

Among the terms used in the description of the present invention, mainbroadcast service data correspond to data that can be received by afixed receiving system and may include audio/video (A/V) data. Morespecifically, the main broadcast service data may include A/V data ofhigh definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) levels and may alsoinclude diverse data types required for data broadcasting. Also, theknown data correspond to data pre-known in accordance with apre-arranged agreement between the receiving system and the transmittingsystem.

The present invention relates to enabling a telematics terminal toreceive and process mobile broadcast services. Most particularly, thepresent invention relates to enabling a telematics terminal to receiveand process vestigial side band (VSB) mode mobile broadcast servicedata.

Once the telematics terminal receives mobile broadcast service data viaa plurality of channels (or multiple channels), the present inventionselects and processes only one set of mobile broadcast service datahaving excellent receive (RX) sensitivity. Most particularly, thepresent invention relates to receiving VSB mode mobile broadcast servicedata transmitted from the telematics terminal via multiple paths andalso processing the received mobile broadcast service data.

The telematics terminals are largely provided for before-market usageand for after-market usage. The before-market telematics terminals areprovided in manufactured vehicles as an optional feature. Users may alsopurchase after-market telematics terminals and personally equipped theirvehicles with the purchased terminal. More specifically, after-markettelematics terminals may largely include fixed-type telematics terminalsand mobile-type telematics terminals. Fixed-type terminals arepermanently fixed once equipped inside a vehicle and cannot be removed.On the other hand, mobile-type telematics terminals may be detachablyfixed inside a vehicle. The telematics terminal according to the presentinvention may be applied to both the before-market and after-markettelematics terminals. Also, in the description of the present invention,a driver or passenger using the telematics services within a vehiclewill be referred to as a “user” for simplicity.

Telematics System

FIG. 1 illustrates a block view showing a conceptual view of atelematics system according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 1, the telematics system broadly includes abroadcasting station, a domestic carrier, a vehicle information center,a global positioning system (GPS), and a telematics terminal. Morespecifically, the broadcasting station transmits mobile broadcastservice data via a broadcasting network. The domestic carrier transmitsand receives information to and from the telematics terminal via awireless telecommunication network. The vehicle information centercollects and provides traffic (or vehicle) information to thebroadcasting station and/or the domestic carrier. The GPS providesposition information of specific vehicles. And, the telematics terminalprovides safety/security services, telecommunication services, broadcastservices, navigation services, and so on. For example, the vehicleinformation center collects diverse traffic information via a variety ofpaths (e.g., input from operator (or manager), other servers passingthrough the network, or probe cars) and, then, provides the collectedinformation to the broadcasting station and/or the domestic carrier.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 1, the telematics terminal mayprovide diverse types of services including traffic informationservices, emergency rescue services, remote diagnosis/control services,stolen vehicle tracking services, wireless internet services (e g ,finance update, news update, e-mail, messenger, VoD services),2-dimensional/3-dimensional (2D/3D) navigation services, personalinformation/convenience services, phone call services, and so on, to theuser using technologies based on position measurement system, wirelesstelecommunication network, and voice recognition. Also, the telematicsterminal may read (or play-back or reproduce) or write (or record) audiosignals and video signals stored in various write/read (orrecord/reproduce) media, such as a cassette tape, CD, DVD, MP3, and soon, through a write/read media driver.

Furthermore, the telematics terminal may receive and output mobilebroadcast service data being transmitted via the broadcasting network.Particularly, the telematics terminal may simultaneously receive diversetypes of mobile broadcast service data being transmitted in a VSB mode,which are then demodulated and decoded, thereby simultaneouslyoutputted. The plurality of mobile broadcast services being outputted tothe output device may be sent to the user in the form of at least one oftext, voice, graphic, still image, and moving image. For example, whenit assumed that the plurality of mobile broadcast services selected bythe user corresponds to TV series and traffic information, thetelematics terminal simultaneously receives the TV series informationand traffic information, which are then demodulated and decoded.Thereafter, the telematics terminal may display the selected TV serieson one portion of a screen and display the traffic information onanother portion of the screen. In another example, the telematicsterminal may display the TV series on the screen and provide the trafficinformation in the form of subtitles or audio data.

Furthermore, the telematics terminal may receive and output mobilebroadcast service data being transmitted via the broadcasting network.Particularly, the telematics terminal may simultaneously receive diversetypes of mobile broadcast service data being transmitted in a VSB mode,which are then demodulated and decoded, thereby simultaneouslyoutputted. The plurality of mobile broadcast services being outputted tothe output device may be sent to the user in the form of at least one oftext, voice, graphic, still image, and moving image. For example, whenit assumed that the plurality of mobile broadcast services selected bythe user corresponds to TV series and traffic information, thetelematics terminal simultaneously receives the TV series informationand traffic information, which are then demodulated and decoded.Thereafter, the telematics terminal may display the selected TV serieson one portion of a screen and display the traffic information onanother portion of the screen. In another example, the telematicsterminal may display the TV series on the screen and provide the trafficinformation in the form of subtitles or audio data.

When the broadcasting station transmits the mobile broadcast servicedata in VSB mode, additional encoding may be performed on the mobilebroadcast service data. Subsequently, the additionally encoded mobilebroadcast service data may be multiplexed with the main broadcastservice data in a parade structure and, then, transmitted. Theadditional encoding process may include at least one of block encodingat a coding rate of 1/H, error correction encoding, error detectionencoding, row permutation processes. Thus, the mobile broadcast servicedata may be provided with more robustness (or strength), thereby beingcapable of responding more effectively to noise and channel environmentthat undergoes frequent changes.

More specifically, each parade is repeated per parade identifier (e.g.,parade_id)to transmit the same mobile broadcast service. At this time,this transmission path will be referred to as a parade in the presentinvention. In other words, one or more parades are temporallymultiplexed in one physical channel determined by frequency.

For example, mobile broadcast service 1 and mobile broadcast service 2can be transmitted from parade alpha, mobile broadcast service 3 andmobile broadcast service 4 can be transmitted from parade beta, andmobile broadcast service 5 can be transmitted from parade gamma.

At this time, one parade may transmit either one RS frame or two RSframes, i.e., a primary RS frame and a secondary RS frame.

At this point, when data included in one RS frame assign into aplurality of data groups and the data groups are transmitted to thereceiving system. Herein, one data group may consist of a plurality ofmobile broadcast service data packets, wherein one mobile broadcastservice data packet includes a plurality of mobile broadcast servicedata bytes. Furthermore, the data group may be divided into a pluralityof regions based upon a degree of interference from the main broadcastservice data. At this point, a long known data sequence may beperiodically inserted in a region that has no interference from the mainbroadcast service data.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, each parademay transmit different types of mobile broadcast service data. Forexample, a parade alpha may transmit TV series, and a parade beta maytransmit traffic information.

Therefore, when a plurality of mobile broadcast services selected by theuser are transmitted through a plurality of parades via a singlechannel, the telematics terminal according to the present inventiondemodulates and decodes the mobile broadcast service data of thecorresponding parade, thereby simultaneously providing the plurality ofmobile broadcast services to the user.

Also, the telematics terminal according to the present invention isprovided with a plurality of antennas, so as to receive broadcastsignals of the same frequency via a plurality of paths, therebyenhancing receive sensitivity. At this point, the plurality of antennamay indicate either that a plurality of antenna has a single receivingelement or that one antenna includes a plurality of receiving elements.In other words, a plurality of antenna indicates a plurality of antennaelements.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, aplurality of data groups may co-exist with main broadcast service datapacket in the parade section, and only main broadcast service data mayexist in section between parade and parade. At this point, when thetelematics terminal receives only mobile broadcast service dataincluding traffic information, the telematics terminal may turn thepower on only during a slot to which the data group of the parade, whichtransmits the mobile broadcast service data, is assigned, and thetelematics terminal may turn the power off during the remaining slots,thereby reducing power consumption of the telematics terminal.

In order for the telematics terminal to extract the mobile broadcastservice data from the channel through which mobile broadcast servicedata are transmitted and to decode the extracted mobile broadcastservice data, system information is required. Such system informationmay also be referred to as service information. The system informationmay include channel information, event information, etc. In theembodiment of the present invention, the PSI/PSIP tables are applied asthe system information. However, the present invention is not limited tothe example set forth herein. More specifically, regardless of the name,any protocol transmitting system information in a table format may beapplied in the present invention.

The PSI table is an MPEG-2 system standard defined for identifying thechannels and the programs. The PSIP table is an advanced televisionsystems committee (ATSC) standard that can identify the channels and theprograms. The PSI table may include a program association table (PAT), aconditional access table (CAT), a program map table (PMT), and a networkinformation table (NIT). Herein, the PAT corresponds to specialinformation that is transmitted by a data packet having a PID of ‘0’.The PAT transmits PID information of the PMT and PID information of theNIT corresponding to each program. The CAT transmits information on apaid broadcasting system used by the transmitting system. The PMTtransmits PID information of a transport stream (TS) packet, in whichprogram identification numbers and individual bit sequences of video andaudio data configuring the corresponding program are transmitted, andthe PID information, in which PCR is transmitted. The NIT transmitsinformation of the actual transmission network.

The PSIP table may include a virtual channel table (VCT), a system timetable (STT), a rating region table (RRT), an extended text table (ETT),a direct channel change table (DCCT), an event information table (EIT),and a master guide table (MGT). The VCT transmits information on virtualchannels, such as channel information for selecting channels andinformation such as packet identification (PID) numbers for receivingthe audio and/or video data. More specifically, when the VCT is parsed,the PID of the audio/video data of the broadcast program may be known.Herein, the corresponding audio/video data are transmitted within thechannel along with the channel name and channel number. The STTtransmits information on the current data and timing information. TheRRT transmits information on region and consultation organs for programratings. The ETT transmits additional description of a specific channeland broadcast program. The EIT transmits information on virtual channelevents (e.g., program title, program start time, etc.). The DCCT/DCCSCTtransmits information associated with automatic (or direct) channelchange. And, the MGT transmits the versions and PID information of theabove-mentioned tables included in the PSIP.

Also, the basic unit of each table within the PSI/PSIP consists of asection unit. Herein, at least one section is combined to form a table.For example, the VCT may be divided into 256 sections. In this example,one section may hold a plurality of virtual channel information.However, each information on one virtual channel cannot be divided into2 or more sections. Furthermore, a TS packet holding the mobilebroadcast service data may correspond to either a packetized elementarystream (PES) type or a section type. More specifically, PES type mobilebroadcast service data are configured of TS packets, or section typemobile broadcast service data are configured of TS packets. Thebroadcasting station according to an embodiment of the present inventiontransmits mobile broadcast service data in the forms of text, graphic,and still image as the section type mobile broadcast service data.Alternatively, the broadcasting station transmits mobile broadcastservice data in the forms of audio or moving picture as the PES typemobile broadcast service data.

In the present invention, the section type mobile broadcast service dataare included in a digital storage media-command and control (DSM-CC)section. Herein, according to the embodiment of the present invention,the DSM-CC section is configured of 188-byte unit TS packets.Furthermore, the packet identification (or identifier) of the TS packetconfiguring the DSM-CC section is included in a data service table(DST). When transmitting the DST, ‘0x95’ is assigned as the value of astream_type field included in the service location descriptor of the PMTor the VCT. More specifically, when the PMT or VCT stream_type fieldvalue is ‘0x95’, the telematics system may acknowledge that mobilebroadcast service data are being received. At this point, the mobilebroadcast service data may be transmitted by a data carousel method. Thedata carousel method corresponds to repeatedly transmitting identicaldata on a regular basis.

The telematics terminal may only use the tables included in the PSI, oronly use the tables included in the PSIP, or use a combination of thetable included in the PSI and PSIP, so as to parse and decode the mobilebroadcast service data that are being transmitted. In order to parse anddecode the mobile broadcast service data, in case of the PSI, at leastthe PAT and PMT are required, and in case of the PSIP, the VCT isrequired. For example, the PAT may include system informationtransmitting the mobile broadcast service data and a PID of the PMTcorresponding to the mobile broadcast service data (or program number).Also, the PMT may include a PID of a TS packet transmitting the mobilebroadcast service data. Furthermore, the VCT may include information onthe virtual channel transmitting the mobile broadcast service data and aPID of the TS packet transmitting the mobile broadcast service data.

Telematics Terminal

FIG. 2 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, whereinthe telematics terminal is provided with a broadcasting module that iscapable of receiving VSB mode mobile broadcast service data. Referringto FIG. 2, the telematics terminal includes a control unit (or centralprocess unit (CPU)) 100. Herein, the telematics terminal also includes aposition information module 101, a telecommunication module 102, abroadcasting module 103, a write/read media driver 104, an outerinterface unit 105, a user input unit 106, a vehicle network unit 107, anavigation unit 108, a voice processing unit 109, and a display unit110, which are all connected to the control unit 100. The control unit100 controls the overall operation of the telematics terminal and mayalso include a memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.) for storing diverseinformation required for the basic control of the telematics terminal.

The position information module 101 may include at least one of or botha GPS receiver (not shown) and a bearing sensor (not shown). Herein, theGPS receiver receives a current position information from a satelliteGPS at a predetermined cycle period (e.g., a cycle period of 0.5second). The bearing sensor receives position information provided fromthe vehicle. For example, the position information module 101 mainlyreceives the position information from the GPS receiver. However, insituations where the GPS receiver does not operate, the positioninformation module 101 may also use the bearing sensor. The bearingsensor receives signals from at least any one of an angle sensor, aterrestrial magnetic field sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor, therebycalculating a position of the vehicle based upon the received signals.

Hereinafter, in the description of the present invention, the positioninformation module 101 will include the GPS receiver and the bearingsensor for simplicity. According to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the position information module 101 corresponds to ahybrid-type position information module, which extracts GPS informationand compensation data for compensating the position of a moving vehicleusing a variety of sensors equipped in the vehicle. Then, the positioninformation module 101 uses the extracted compensation data so as tocompensate the position of the moving vehicle, thereby locating thecurrent position of the corresponding vehicle. As described above, theposition information module 101 may use both types of information. Yet,in some cases, the position information module 101 may only use the GPSinformation in order to acquire (or obtain) the desired positioninformation. The current position information of the correspondingvehicle generated from the position information module 101 is thenprovided to the control unit 100.

In searching for a path depending upon a user input, thetelecommunication module 102 may receive traffic information for settingup the shortest distance from the current position to the finaldestination. Alternatively, the telecommunication module 102 may alsoreceive information either via communication among vehicles or viatransmitters of a separate information center and/or roadsidetransmitters. The telecommunication module 102 may communicate with adigital interface that includes, for example, at least one of wirelessapplication protocol (WAP), code division multiple access (CDMA)evolution-data only (1xEV-DO), wireless local area network (LAN),dedicated short range communication (DSRC), 802.16, mobile internet,wireless broadband internet (WiBro), world interoperability formicrowave access (WiMAX), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), andso on. However, whenever required, the telecommunication module 102 maynot be provided with a telematics terminal.

Also, depending upon a user request (e.g., vehicle theft report), thedomestic carrier may request the current position of the stolen vehiclevia a wireless telecommunication network to the telecommunication module102. In this case, the telecommunication module 102 receives the currentposition information of the corresponding vehicle, which is generatedfrom the position information module 101, through the control unit 100.Thereafter, the telecommunication module 102 transmits the receivedposition information to the domestic carrier. Alternatively, thetelematics terminal may detect the vehicle theft incident, therebyautomatically sending the current position information of the stolenvehicle to the domestic carrier via the telecommunication module 102. Inthis case, the domestic carrier may transmit the received positioninformation of the stolen vehicle to the user or to government offices,such as a police office (or station).

The broadcasting module 103 receives mobile broadcast service datasignals transmitted in VSB mode via a plurality of antennas. Then, thebroadcasting module 103 selects one of the received mobile broadcastservice data signals received via the plurality of antennas and outputsthe selected signal as a single mobile broadcast service data signal,thereby demodulating and decoding the outputted signal. Herein, theplurality of mobile broadcast service data signals, which are receivedfrom a plurality of antenna elements via a plurality of paths, may beoutputted as a single mobile broadcast service data signal by using avariety of methods.

For example, by comparing the receive sensitivity of each broadcastsignal received via a plurality of paths, only one mobile broadcastservice data signal having the most excellent receive sensitivity may beselected and outputted as the single mobile broadcast service datasignal. Alternatively, a single mobile broadcast service data signal maybe outputted by combining all of the received mobile broadcast servicedata signals. The detailed description of outputted a single signal ismerely exemplary. Therefore, the broadcasting module according to anembodiment of the present invention selects one of the VSB mode mobilebroadcast service data signals received via a plurality of paths,wherein the selected signal has the most excellent receive sensitivity,and outputs the selected signal as a single mobile broadcast servicedata signal, which is then demodulated and decoded.

The output device includes a display unit 110 and a speaker. The processof the broadcasting module 103 receiving at least one mobile broadcastservice data signals transmitted in VSB mode, thereby demodulating andbroadcasting the received signal will be described in detail in a laterprocess.

Additionally, the broadcasting module 103 may receive digital multimediabroadcasting (DMB) mode and digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H)mode broadcast service data, and the broadcasting module 103 may alsoreceive FM or AM radio broadcast programs. For example, the broadcastingmodule 103 responds to a radio-on signal of a specific channel providedfrom the user input unit 106, so as to receive and process the radiosignal of the corresponding channel. Subsequently, the processed radiosignal passes through the control unit 100 and is outputted through thespeaker.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the broadcastingmodule 103 receives and processes VSB mode mobile broadcast services. Ifthe mobile broadcast service data received, demodulated, and decodedfrom the broadcasting module 103 correspond to A/V data, thecorresponding mobile broadcast service data pass through the controlunit 100 and are outputted to the display unit 110 and the speaker. Ifthe mobile broadcast service data correspond to audio-specific data,then the corresponding mobile broadcast service data may be outputtedonly to the speaker. However, if the mobile broadcast service datacorrespond to text or graphic data, then the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data may be outputted only to the display unit.

Referring to FIG. 3, the broadcasting module will now be described indetail. The position information module 101, the telecommunication 102,and the broadcasting module 103 either respectively receive or transmitthe corresponding information through an antenna (not shown). At thispoint, the telematics terminal may be provided with an antenna for eachof the position information module 101, the telecommunication 102, andthe broadcasting module 103. Alternatively, the telematics terminal mayalso be provided with multiple antennas supporting a plurality offrequency bands.

The write/read media driver 104 may read (or play-back or reproduce)audio signals and video signals stored in various write/read (orrecord/reproduce) media, such as a cassette tape, CD, DVD, MP3, and soon. Alternatively, if a medium inserted in the write/read media driver104 corresponds to a writable (or recordable) medium, such as DVD-RW,CD-RW, the write/read media driver 104 may also record the mobilebroadcast service data being received through the broadcasting module103. In this case, also, if the data played-back by the write/read mediadriver 104 correspond to A/V data, the corresponding data pass throughthe control unit 100 and are outputted to the display unit 110 and thespeaker. If the played-back data correspond to audio-specific data, thenthe corresponding data may be outputted only to the speaker. However, ifthe played-back data correspond to text or image data, then thecorresponding data may be outputted only to the display unit.

The outer interface unit 105 is used to interface an external devicewith the control unit 100. Herein, the external device may include amobile storage device, iPOD, Bluetooth. The mobile storage device mayinclude a flash memory, a USB memory, a hard disk drive (HDD). Forexample, when using the bluetooth technology, a system including awireless device control and terminal equipped within a vehicle may beremotely controlled. The user input unit 106 is an input device fortransmitting a user command to the control unit 100. For example, theuser input unit 106 corresponds to a button or key equipped on thetelematics terminal or a remote controller. Also, a microphone, which isconnected to the voice processing unit 109, and the display unit 110 arealso included in the user input unit 106. At this point, the displayunit 110 may be interfaced with the user in the form of a touch screen.

More specifically, when operating the device, the user may use at leastone of the methods for generating a control signal, such as the touchscreen, the button (or key), the remote controller, and the microphone.Also, since the environment of the vehicle is prone to dangerouscircumstances, a method enabling the user to avoid operating the devicewhile driving the vehicle may be proposed. In order to do so, the devicemay be operated by voice control, and, accordingly, the user may beprovided with services via audio (or voice) messages. Thus, a saferenvironment while driving may be provided. For example, when an e-mailservice is requested, it would be extremely convenient to be able toprovide information on the contents of an e-mail or information on thesender. Also, the voice controlled device may ensure safer than whenoperating the device by hand.

The display unit 110 may display a main screen so as to enable the userto select the operation of the device or a specific function based uponthe control of the control unit 100. The user may select a specificelement of the menu screen by using a button (or key) on the telematicsterminal or a remote controller. The user may also make a selection bytouching the corresponding element from the touch screen. Morespecifically, the user may select a wanted (or requested) mobilebroadcast service via the touch screen. Also, by touching the touchscreen, the user may enable the audio or video file, which is pre-storedin the write/read media driver, to be played-back. By touching the touchscreen, the user may also view the wanted (or requested) mobilebroadcast service. Furthermore, the user may also use a navigationdevice, such as a global positioning system (GPS), so as to select anyone of a route guidance system, which provides road (or travel route)guidance to the user from a current position to the wanted destination.

The voice processing unit 109 processes voice guidance data respectiveof the route search processed by the navigation unit 108 and outputs theprocessed data to the speaker. Alternatively, the voice processing unit109 processes a voice (or audio) signal inputted through thetelecommunication module 102 and outputs the processed signal to thespeaker. Also, the voice processing unit 109 analyzes the voice of theuser, which is inputted through the microphone, and provides theanalyzed result to the control unit 100. For example, if the inputtedvoice signal corresponds to a device operation command, the control unit100 operates the corresponding device. And, if the inputted voice signalcorresponds to the data that are to be transmitted to a remote sitethrough a wireless telecommunication network, the voice signal isoutputted to the telecommunication module 102. At this point, since thevoice signal can be transmitted and received in two ways (orbi-directionally) through the wireless telecommunication network, ahandsfree function can be embodied by using the speaker and microphone,which are already provided herein, without having to equip a separatehandsfree kit.

The display unit 110 corresponds to a screen for displaying images andmay consist of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a plasma displaydevice, an organic EL display device, and so on. A head-up display (HUD)technology, which displays holographic images onto the windshield placedin front of the driver, may be applied to the display unit 110. Thevehicle network unit 107 performs data and control communication betweenthe telematics terminal and other devices equipped in the vehicle. And,depending upon the usage, a serial data bus, such as a controller areanetwork (CAN), a media oriented systems transport (MOST), and anIDB-1394, is used in the vehicle network unit 107. More specifically, anetwork technology for vehicles may broadly include a network technologyfor multimedia and a network technology for electronic devices. Herein,the network technology for multimedia controls multimedia devices, suchas audio devices, video devices, navigation devices, and gaming devices.And, the network technology for electronic devices controls essentialvehicle body parts, such as the engine and handbrake. For example, theCAN may be used in the network technology for electronic devices, andthe MOST and the IDB-1394 may be used in the network technology formultimedia.

The navigation unit 108 controls a map storage unit 111, which storestravel route search, map matching, travel route guidance, and mapinformation. The navigation unit 108 receives map information via thetelecommunication module 102 or the broadcasting module 103, therebynewly storing the received map information to the map storage unit 111or updating the pre-stored map information.

Herein, the stored map information may be used to match and display thecurrent position of the telematics terminal or to provide a travel routefrom the current position to an inputted destination when the userinputs information for a travel route search.

For example, when the user selects a travel route search function, thecurrent position information of the corresponding vehicle, which isgenerated from the position information module 101, passes through thecontrol unit 100 so as to be transmitted to the navigation unit 108.Accordingly, the navigation unit 108 extracts map information, which isto be matched with the position information received from the positioninformation module 101, and GIS information from the map storage unit111. Then, the navigation unit 108 matches the extracted informationwith the received position information, thereby indicating the currentposition within the map displayed on the display unit 110. Additionally,the navigation unit 108 may also output a route guidance broadcast (ormessage) or a warning broadcast (or message) in the form of a voicemessage through the speaker. Herein, the route guidance messagecorresponds to a response to a movement direction of the vehicle. Also,the navigation unit 108 may announce the warning message in order tonotify or warn the driver that the vehicle is nearing an intersection(or crossroad) or a bottleneck section.

When the position information module 101 receives a user inputinformation (e.g., a request for a route search of a specificdestination or point of interest (POI)) through the user input unit 106,the position information module 101 receives the position information ofthe specific destination or point of interest based upon the currentposition information. Thereafter, the position information module 101may send the received information to the navigation unit 108. Thenavigation unit 108 then receives the position information of thecurrent telematics terminal and the route information from the currentposition to the requested destination from the position informationmodule 101. Subsequently, the navigation unit 108 extracts mapinformation stored in the map storage unit 111, thereby matching thereceived position information with the extracted map information.

When the user inputs information on the requested destination, thenavigation unit 108 searches for a travel route from its currentposition to the requested destination using the position informationmodule 101. Then, the navigation unit 108 displays the searched travelroute or an optimum route on the display unit 110. More specifically,the telematics terminal searches for all possible travel routes from thecurrent position to the requested destination, thereby providingguidance information to the user of the route having the shortest traveltime. However, in some cases, the navigation unit 108 may also providethe user with the optimum travel route or a travel route also indicatingtoll roads (or expressways). Herein, the travel route may be searcheddirectly by the telematics terminal itself.

Alternatively, the optimum travel routes or detour travel routesreflecting road congestion information may be provided by receivingtraffic information from an external source using the telecommunicationmodule 102 or the broadcasting module 103. Additionally, by reflectingthe real-time traffic information, the navigation unit 108 may alsoautomatically search for another travel route with better roadconditions and provide the newly searched travel route to the user, evenwhile the previous travel guidance information is being provided to theuser. In addition to the route guidance information, the navigation unit108 may also provide the user with information on traffic conditions,accidents, emergency conditions or disasters.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services via multiple channels and process the receivedmobile broadcast services, thereby demodulating, decoding, andoutputting the processed mobile broadcast services, according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the broadcastingmodule according to the first embodiment of the present inventionincludes a signal selector/receiver. The signal selector/receivercompares the receive sensitivity of mobile broadcast service datasignals received via a plurality of antennas, thereby selecting onemobile broadcast service data signals having the most excellent receivesensitivity. Herein, the signal selector/receiver receives mobilebroadcast service data from a plurality of antennas. More specifically,mobile broadcast service data signals of the same frequency are receivedthrough multiple paths, and only one of the received mobile broadcastservice data signals having the most excellent receive sensitivity isselected. According to the first embodiment of the present invention,the each signal selector/receiver includes a tuner. Herein, the numberof tuners may be equivalent to the number of antenna elements.Alternatively, the broadcasting module may include only one tuner forprocessing the broadcast signals.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the broadcasting module 103includes a signal selector/receiver 211, a synchronization unit 213, amobile broadcast service data processing unit 215, a demultiplexer 216,an audio/video (A/V) decoder 217, a data decoder 218, a program specificinformation/program and system information protocol (PSI/PSIP)information storage unit 219, an application controller 220, a datastorage unit 221, and a flash memory 222. Based upon the control of theapplication controller 220 or the outer interface unit 105, the flashmemory 222 either stores or reads the data stored therein. Herein, theflash memory 222 may correspond to a non-volatile memory. According tothe present invention, other types of non-volatile memory may be usedinstead of the flash memory 222. Apart from the broadcasting module 103,the elements and operation of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 3are identical to those of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 2.Therefore, detailed description of the same will be omitted forsimplicity.

The signal selector/receiver 211 receives mobile broadcast service datasignals from a plurality of antenna elements via multiple paths.Although the mobile broadcast service data signals transmitted from thetransmitting end (or transmitting system) are identically transmittedbased upon the receiving condition (or environment) or the antennaposition, each mobile broadcast service data signal may have differentreceive sensitivity. Also, when an error occurs during signaltransmission, or when a noise occurs, the receive sensitivity of amobile broadcast service data signal may change (or vary). Therefore, itis preferable to receive the mobile broadcast service data via multiplepaths rather than receiving the mobile broadcast service data from asingle antenna element. Accordingly, only one mobile broadcast servicedata signal, which is to be actually processed, is selected andprocessed, thereby enhancing the receive sensitivity.

The signal selector/receiver 211 includes a tuner. Herein, the tunertunes a frequency of a particular channel and down-converts the tunedfrequency to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Then, the IF signalof each tuner is outputted to the synchronization unit 213. After havingthe signal processed by the tuner, the signal selector/receiver 211selects a signal having the most excellent receive sensitivity among aplurality of signals processed by the tuner. Accordingly, the signalselector/receiver 211 may output the selected single signal or maycombine the plurality of signals into a single signal, therebyoutputting the combined signal. Alternatively, before outputting thesignals to the tuner, the signal selector/receiver may also compare theplurality of signals, thereby selecting the signal having the mostexcellent receive sensitivity and outputting the selected signal.Furthermore, the signal selector/receiver 211 may first combine thereceived signals into a single signal and, then, output the combinedsignal to the tuner. Thereafter, the tuner may process the combinedsignal accordingly.

The signal selector/receiver 211 is controlled by the channel managerincluded in the application controller 220. Also, the result andstrength of the broadcast signals corresponding to each tuned channelare reported to the channel manager. Herein, the data received by thefrequency of the specific channel may include mobile broadcast servicedata, main broadcast service data, and table data for decoding themobile broadcast service data and the main broadcast service data.

The structure of the signal selector/receiver 211 will be described inmore detail with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. More specifically, thesynchronization unit 213 receives the IF signal outputted from thesignal selector/receiver 211, so as to perform carrier wave recovery andtiming recovery, thereby being changed (or converted) to a basebandsignal. Thus, channel equalization is performed. The output of thesynchronization unit 213 is inputted to the mobile broadcast dataprocessing unit 215. The mobile broadcast service data processing unit215 performs error correction decoding on the mobile broadcast servicedata among the output data of the synchronization unit 213. Thereafter,the mobile broadcast service data (mobile broadcast service data 1 andmobile broadcast service data 2), which are error correction decoded bythe mobile broadcast service data processing unit 215, are inputted tothe demultiplexer 216.

The synchronization unit 213 and the mobile broadcast service dataprocessing unit 215 will be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 7. Based upon the control of the data decoder 218, if the mobilebroadcast service data packet, which is outputted from the dataderandomizer 534 of the mobile broadcast service data processing unit215, corresponds to a PES type mobile broadcast service data packet, thedemultiplexer 216 outputs the mobile broadcast service data packet tothe A/V decoder 217. Alternatively, if the mobile broadcast service datapacket corresponds to a section-type mobile broadcast service datapacket, the demultiplexer 216 outputs the corresponding mobile broadcastservice data packet to the data decoder 218. Herein, the section-typemobile broadcast service data packet outputted to the data decoder 218may correspond either to mobile broadcast service data or a PSI/PSIPtable.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the mobilebroadcast service data carried by the payload within the section-typemobile broadcast service data packet corresponds to a DSM-CC section. Atthis point, based upon the control of the data decoder 218, thedemultiplexer 216 performs section filtering, thereby discardingduplicate sections and outputting only the non-duplicate sections to thedata decoder 218. Also, by performing section filtering, thedemultiplexer 216 may output only a wanted (or desired) section (e.g., asection configuring a VCT) to the data decoder 218. The VCT includesinformation indicating the type of the mobile broadcast service datathat are being received. The section filtering method may include amethod of verifying the PID of a table defined by the MGT, such as theVCT, prior to performing the section filtering process. Alternatively,the section filtering method may also include a method of directlyperforming the section filtering process without verifying the MGT, whenthe VCT includes a fixed PID (i.e., a base PID). At this point, thedemultiplexer 216 performs the section filtering process by referring toa table_id field, a version_number field, a section_number field, etc.

The data decoder 218 parses sections of the demultiplexed PSI/PSIPtables. Then, the data decoder 218 stores the parsed result in thePSI/PSIP information storage unit 219 as database. For example, the datadecoder 218 groups sections having the same table identifier (table_id)so as to form a table. Then, the data decoder 218 parses the table andthe parsed result in the PSI/PSIP information storage unit 219 asdatabase. In performing the parsing process, the data decoder 218 readsall remaining section data, which have not been processed with sectionfiltering, and actual section data. Thereafter, the data decoder 218stores the read data to the PSI/PSIP information storage unit 219.Herein, the table_id field, the section_number field, and thelast_section_number field included in the table may be used to indicatewhether the corresponding table is configured of a single section or aplurality of sections. For example, TS packets having the PID of the VCTare grouped to form a section, and sections having table identifiersallocated to the VCT are grouped to form the VCT.

Additionally, the data decoder 218 either stores the demultiplexedmobile broadcast service data to the data storage unit 221 as database,or outputs the demultiplexed mobile broadcast service data to thedisplay unit 110 and/or speaker through the application controller 220and control unit 100. By parsing system information tables, such as PMTand VCT, information on the virtual channel through which the mobilebroadcast service data are transmitted may be obtained. Also,information as to whether PES-type mobile broadcast service data arebeing transmitted through the corresponding virtual channel orinformation as to whether section-type mobile broadcast service data arebeing transmitted through the corresponding virtual channel may also beobtained. By parsing the system information tables, the type of themobile broadcast service data being transmitted may also be known. Morespecifically, the data decoder 218 may extract information on virtualchannels by referring to element stream types (ES types) within systeminformation tables (i.e., VCT and/or PAT/PMT) and PIDs. Also, when theextracted channel information indicate that PES-type mobile broadcastservice data exist in a virtual channel, A/V PID of the correspondingvirtual channel (VCH) within a channel map is setup, thereby controllingan A/V demultiplexing process of the demultiplexer 216.

Meanwhile, when the extracted channel information indicate thatsection-type mobile broadcast service data exist in a virtual channel,the demultiplexer 216 demultiplexes the mobile broadcast service datatransmitted through the virtual channel, thereby either storing thedemultiplexed data in the data storage unit 221 or outputting thedemultiplexed data to an output device, such as the display unit 110 andthe speaker. For example, when it is assumed that the mobile broadcastservice data are transmitted in DSM-CC sections, the presence (orexistence) of the mobile broadcast service data may be known by parsinga stream_type field value within the PMT or the stream_type field valueof the service location descriptor included in the VCT. Morespecifically, when the stream_type field value is equal to ‘0x95’, thisindicates that the mobile broadcast service data are transmitted to thecorresponding virtual channel.

By performing section filtering, the demultiplexer 216 may output onlyan application information table (AIT) to the data decoder 218. The AITincludes information of an application that is operated in thetelematics terminal for the data service. The AIT may includeapplication information, such as application name, application version,application priority, application ID, application status (i.e.,auto-start, user-specific settings, kill, etc.), application type (i.e.,Java or HTML), position (or location) of stream including applicationclass and data files, application platform directory, and location ofapplication icon. Therefore, by using such information, the applicationmay store information required for its operation in the flash memory222.

The application that is operated by the application controller 220 maybe received along with the broadcast data and, then, updated. A databroadcasting application manager, which is executed by the applicationcontroller 220 in order to operate the corresponding application, may beprovided with a platform, which can execute an application program.Herein, for example, the platform may correspond to a Java virtualmachine for executing a Java program. Furthermore, the data decoder 218controls the demultiplexing of the system information table, whichcorresponds to the information table associated with the channel andevents. Thereafter, an A/V PID list may be transmitted to the channelmanager. The channel manager may refer to the channel map in order totransmit a request for receiving system-related information data to thedata decoder 218, thereby receiving the corresponding result. Inaddition, the channel manager may also control the channel-tuning of thetuner included in the signal selector/receiver 211.

The channel manager controls the signal selector/receiver 211 and thedata decoder 218 so as to manage the channel map, so that it can respondto the channel request made by the user. More specifically, channelmanager sends a request to the data decoder 218 so that the tables areparsed. Herein, the tables are associated with the channels that are tobe tuned. The results of the parsed tables are reported to the channelmanager by the data decoder 218. Thereafter, based on the parsedresults, the channel manager updates the channel map and sets up a PIDin the demultiplexer 216 for demultiplexing the tables associated withthe mobile broadcast service data from the mobile broadcast service datapacket. Furthermore, the channel manager may directly control thedemultiplexer 216, so as to directly set up the A/V PID, therebycontrolling the A/V decoder 217. The A/V decoder 217 may decode each ofthe audio data and the video data from the demultiplexed mobilebroadcast service data and, then, output the decoded data.

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of the signal selector/receiver accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, thenumber of signal receivers (e.g., tuners) is equivalent to the number ofantennas. Although two or more antennas may be provided in a signalselector/receiver of the present invention, only the structure of thesignal selector/receiver presented herein will include two antennas. Thesignal selector/receiver 211 receives a plurality of broadcast signalsvia multiple paths, thereby selecting and outputting a single signal. Inorder to do so, the signal selector/receiver 211 includes a plurality ofsignal receivers 41 and 42, a signal comparator-selector 43, and amultiplexer (MUX) 44. The signal selector/receiver 211 having theabove-described structure may be provided according to a plurality ofembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4, a first signal receiver 41 and a second signalreceiver 42 respectively receives radio frequency (RF) signals ofspecific channels, thereby down-converting each of the received RFsignals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. At this point, thereceived RF signals or down-converted IF signals are provided to thesignal comparator-selector 43. Then, the signal comparator-selector 43compares the strength of each received signal, thereby selecting thesignal having better (or greater) receive sensitivity. Thereafter, thesignal comparator-selector 43 outputs the selected signal to themultiplexer (MUX) 44.

At this point, the signal comparator-selector 43 may receive RF signalsand compare the strength of the received RF signals. Alternatively, thesignal comparator-selector 43 may receive down-converted IF signals andcompare the strength of each down-converted IF signals. Furthermore,either both of the signals received by the first signal receiver 41 andthe second signal receiver 42 is outputted to the multiplexer (MUX) 44,or only the signal selected by the signal comparator-selector 43 isoutputted to the multiplexer (MUX) 44. In order to do so, the signalcomparator-selector 43 provides control signals for comparing andselecting signals to the first signal receiver 41 and the second signalreceiver 42, respectively. Depending upon the signal selected andoutputted from the signal comparator-selector 43, the multiplexer (MUX)44 may select only one of the signals received from the first signalreceiver 41 and the second signal receiver 42. Then, the multiplexer(MUX) 44 may output the selected signal to the synchronization unit 213.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of the signal selector/receiver accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5,the number of signal receivers (e.g., tuners) is not required to beequivalent to the number of antennas. In other words, one or more tunersmay exist regardless of the number of antennas included in the signalselector/receiver. Although two or more antennas may be provided in asignal selector/receiver of the present invention, only the structure ofthe signal selector/receiver presented herein will include two antennas.The signal selector/receiver 211 receives a plurality of broadcastsignals via multiple paths, thereby selecting and outputting a singlesignal. In order to do so, the signal selector/receiver 211 includesfirst and second band-pass filters 51 and 52, a signalcomparator-selector 53, a multiplexer (MUX) 54, and an RF signalprocessor 55.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to the control of the applicationcontroller 220, the first band-pass filter 51 and the second band-passfilter 52 receive radio frequency (RF) signals of a specific frequencyband, which are then outputted to the signal comparator-selector 53.Subsequently, the signal comparator-selector 53 compares the strength ofeach of the two inputted RF signals, thereby selecting the RF signalhaving better (or greater) receive sensitivity. Thereafter, the signalcomparator-selector 53 outputs the selected RF signal to the multiplexer(MUX) 54.

At this point, both of the RF signals received by the first band-passfilter 51 and the second band-pass filter 52 is outputted to themultiplexer (MUX) 54, or only the RF signal selected by the signalcomparator-selector 53 is outputted to the multiplexer (MUX) 54. Inorder to do so, the signal comparator-selector 53 provides controlsignals to each of the first band-pass filter 51 and the secondband-pass filter 52. Depending upon the RF signal selected and outputtedfrom the signal comparator-selector 53, the multiplexer (MUX) 54 mayselect only one of the RF signals received the first bandpass filter 51and the second band-pass filter 52. Then, the multiplexer (MUX) 54 mayoutput the selected RF signal to the RF signal processor 55.Subsequently, the RF signal processor 55 down-converts the received RFsignal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which is then outputtedto the synchronization unit 213.

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of the signal selector/receiver accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention. Another method forreceiving broadcast signals via multiple paths and outputting only asingle signal will be described herein with reference to FIG. 6. Thesignal selector/receiver 211 receives a plurality of broadcast signalsvia multiple paths, thereby selecting and outputting a single signal. Inorder to do so, the signal selector/receiver 211 includes at least tworeceive signal processors 60 and 70, a combiner 80, and a gaincontroller 90. Each of the at least two receive signal processors 60 and70 may include an antenna, a synchronization block 61, a threshold valuedetector 62, an output unit 63, a memory controller 64, and a memory 65.

The receive signal processing unit 60 processing a signal received fromone of the two antennas will now be described in detail. Thesynchronization block 61 matches the frequency and phase of the receivedsignal. In the present invention, it is given that a synchronizationpattern is included in the receive signal. The threshold value detector62 receives the signal from the synchronization block 61 and measuresthe gain of the received signal, so as to determine whether the receivedsignal is useful for the combining process. Afterwards, when thethreshold value detector 62 decides that the received signal is useful,then the threshold value detector 62 outputs a select signal to theoutput unit 63. Herein, the select signal allows the signal inputted tothe synchronization block 61 to be selected. On the other hand, when thethreshold value detector 62 decides that the received signal is notuseful, then the threshold value detector 62 outputs a different selectsignal to the output unit 63. This signal allows ‘0’ to be selected.More specifically, during the transmission process, the broadcast signalmay collide with an obstacle or have its course of movement altered (ordeformed or curved), thereby decreasing its strength. Eventually, thenoise rate increases, thereby preventing clear and accurate signals frombeing transmitted. Accordingly, this prevents the signal from beingcombined in the combiner 80.

Based upon the select signal outputted from the threshold value detector62, the output unit 63 selects the signal being outputted from thesynchronization block 61. Thereafter, either the output unit 63 outputsthe selected signal to the memory 65, or the output unit 63 selects ‘0’and outputs the selected ‘0’ to the memory 65. The memory controller 64detects a synchronization pattern from the output signal of thesynchronization block 61, thereby generating a write signal for eachmemory. Herein, the memory of the primarily detected path will be set asthe reference memory. The memory 65 stores the signal outputted from theoutput unit 63 and outputs the signal to the combiner 80. At this point,the memory 65 should be set to have a length longer that the maximumdelay time. When a predetermined amount of unread signals, which arestored in the reference memory, are stored, a read signal is generatedso that the signals corresponding to each memory including the referencememory are simultaneously outputted to the combiner 80, therebyincreasing the address.

The combiner 80 adds the signal of the memory 65 included in the firstsignal processing unit 60 and the signal of each memory included in allof the other signal processing units. Thereafter, the combiner 80outputs the added result to the gain controller 90. At this point, sincethe noise of each signal is random, the average value is equal to ‘0’.Also, the signal strength becomes stronger, thereby increasing theoverall noise ratio. The gain controller 91 controls (or adjusts) thegain of the combined signals outputted from the combiner 80 and, then,outputs the controlled gain to the synchronization unit 213. Herein, aplurality of methods for controlling the gain may be used. For example,a simple method of dividing the combined gain by the number of pathsused in the combining process may be used. Alternatively, a method ofmeasuring the signal strength of each path, thereby dividing each of themeasured signal strengths by different ratios, may also be used. Theoperation of the receive signal processing unit 60 may be identicallyapplied to another receive signal processing unit 70, which processessignals received from another antenna. Although two receive signalprocessing units are presented in the embodiment of the presentinvention, the present invention will not be limited to the examplepresented herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed block view of the synchronization unit 213and the mobile broadcast service data processing unit 215. Referring toFIG. 7, the synchronization unit 213 includes a modulator 511, a channelequalizer 512, and a known sequence detector 513. And, the mobilebroadcast service data processing unit 215 includes a block decoder 531,a RS frame decoder 533, and a data derandomizer 534. More specifically,the demodulator 511 of the synchronization unit 213 performs self-gaincontrol, carrier wave recovery, and timing recovery processes on theinputted IF signal, thereby modifying the IF signal to a basebandsignal. Then, the demodulator 511 outputs the modified IF signal to thechannel equalizer 512 and the known sequence detector 513. The channelequalizer 512 compensates the distortion of the channel included in thedemodulated signal and then outputs the error-compensated signal to theblock decoder 531 of the mobile broadcast service data processing unit215.

At this point, the known sequence detector 513 detects the knownsequence place inserted by the transmitting end from the input/outputdata of the demodulator 511 (i.e., the data prior to the demodulationprocess or the data after the demodulation process). Thereafter, theplace information (or position indicator) along with the symbol sequenceof the known data, which are generated from the detected place, isoutputted to the demodulator 511 and the channel equalizer 512. Also,the known sequence detector 513 outputs a set of information to theblock decoder 531. This set of information is used to allow the blockdecoder 531 of the receiving system to identify the mobile broadcastservice data that are processed with additional encoding from thetransmitting system and the main broadcast service data that are notprocessed with additional encoding.

The demodulator 511 uses the known data (or sequence) position indicatorand the known data symbol sequence during the timing and/or carrier waverecovery, thereby enhancing the demodulating performance. Similarly, thechannel equalizer 512 uses the known sequence position indicator and theknown data symbol sequence so as to enhance the equalizing performance.Moreover, the decoding result of the block decoder 531 may be fed-backto the channel equalizer 512, thereby enhancing the equalizingperformance.

The channel equalizer 512 may perform channel equalization by using aplurality of methods. An example of estimating a channel impulseresponse (CIR), so as to perform channel equalization, will be given inthe description of the present invention. Most particularly, an exampleof estimating the CIR in accordance with each region within the datagroup, which is hierarchically divided and transmitted from thetransmitting system, and applying each CIR differently will also bedescribed herein. Furthermore, by using the known data, the place andcontents of which is known in accordance with an agreement between thetransmitting system and the receiving system, and the fieldsynchronization data, so as to estimate the CIR, the present inventionmay be able to perform channel equalization with more stability.

Herein, the data group that is inputted for the equalization process isdivided into regions A to D, as shown in FIG. 8. More specifically, inthe example of the present invention, each region A, B, C, and D arefurther divided into MPH blocks B4 to B7, MPH blocks B3 and B8, MPHblocks B2 and B9, MPH blocks B1 and B10, respectively.

More specifically, a data group can be assigned and transmitted amaximum the number of 4 in a VSB frame in the transmitting system. Inthis case, all data group do not include field synchronization data. Inthe present invention, the data group including the fieldsynchronization data performs channel-equalization using the fieldsynchronization data and known data. And the data group not includingthe field synchronization data performs channel-equalization using theknown data. For example, the data of the MPH block B3 including thefield synchronization data performs channel-equalization using the CIRcalculated from the field synchronization data area and the CIRcalculated from the first known data area. Also, the data of the MPHblocks B1 and B2 performs channel-equalization using the CIR calculatedfrom the field synchronization data area and the CIR calculated from thefirst known data area. Meanwhile, the data of the MPH blocks B4 to B6not including the field synchronization data performschannel-equalization using CIRS calculated from the first known dataarea and the third known data area.

As described above, the present invention uses the CIR estimated fromthe field synchronization data and the known data sequences in order toperform channel equalization on data within the data group. At thispoint, each of the estimated CIRs may be directly used in accordancewith the characteristics of each region within the data group.Alternatively, a plurality of the estimated CIRs may also be eitherinterpolated or extrapolated so as to create a new CIR, which is thenused for the channel equalization process.

Herein, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particular point Q anda value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particular point S areknown, interpolation refers to estimating a function value of a pointwithin the section between points Q and S. Linear interpolationcorresponds to the simplest form among a wide range of interpolationoperations. The linear interpolation described herein is merelyexemplary among a wide range of possible interpolation methods. And,therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the examples setforth herein.

Alternatively, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particularpoint Q and a value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particularpoint S are known, extrapolation refers to estimating a function valueof a point outside of the section between points Q and S. Linearextrapolation is the simplest form among a wide range of extrapolationoperations. Similarly, the linear extrapolation described herein ismerely exemplary among a wide range of possible extrapolation methods.And, therefore, the present invention is not limited only to theexamples set forth herein.

Meanwhile, if the data being inputted to the block decoder 531, afterbeing channel-equalized by the equalizer 512, correspond to the datahaving both block encoding and trellis encoding performed thereon (i.e.,the data within the RS frame, the signaling information data, etc.) bythe transmitting system, trellis decoding and block decoding processesare performed on the inputted data as inverse processes of thetransmitting system. Alternatively, if the data being inputted to theblock decoder 531 correspond to the data having only trellis encodingperformed thereon (i.e., the main broadcast service data), and not theblock encoding, only the trellis decoding process is performed on theinputted data as the inverse process of the transmitting system.

At this point, the data group decoded by the block decoder 531 isinputted to the RS frame decoder 533, whereas the main broadcast servicedata are not outputted to the RS frame decoder 533. If a main broadcastservice data processing unit for processing the main broadcast servicedata is provided, then, instead of being discarded, the main broadcastservice data may be sent to the main broadcast service data processingunit. In this case, the main broadcast service data processing unit mayinclude a data deinterleaver, a RS decoder, and a derandomizer. However,the main broadcast service data processing unit may not be required in asystem structure that only receives the mobile broadcast service dataand may, therefore, be omitted.

The trellis decoded and block decoded data by the block decoder 531 arethen outputted to the RS frame decoder 533. More specifically, the blockdecoder 531 removes the known data, data used for trellisinitialization, and signaling information data, MPEG header, which havebeen inserted in the data group, and the RS parity data, which have beenadded by the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder or non-systematic RSencoder of the transmitting system. Then, the block decoder 531 outputsthe processed data to the RS frame decoder 533. Herein, the removal ofthe data may be performed before the block decoding process, or may beperformed during or after the block decoding process.

If the inputted data correspond to the data having only trellis encodingperformed thereon and not block encoding, the block decoder 531 performsViterbi (or trellis) decoding on the inputted data so as to output ahard decision value or to perform a hard-decision on a soft decisionvalue, thereby outputting the result.

Meanwhile, if the inputted data correspond to the data having both blockencoding process and trellis encoding process performed thereon, theblock decoder 531 outputs a soft decision value with respect to theinputted data.

In other words, if the inputted data correspond to data being processedwith block encoding by the block processor and being processed withtrellis encoding by the trellis encoding module, in the transmittingsystem, the block decoder 531 performs a decoding process and a trellisdecoding process on the inputted data as inverse processes of thetransmitting system. At this point, the RS frame encoder of thepre-processor included in the transmitting system may be viewed as anouter (or external) encoder. And, the trellis encoder may be viewed asan inner (or internal) encoder. When decoding such concatenated codes,in order to allow the block decoder 531 to maximize its performance ofdecoding externally encoded data, the decoder of the internal codeshould output a soft decision value.

Meanwhile, the RS frame decoder 533 receives only the error correctionencoded mobile broadcast service data (i.e., the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded mobile broadcast service data) that are transmitted from theblock decoder 531.

The RS frame decoder 533 performs an inverse process of the RS frameencoder included in the transmitting system so as to correct the errorswithin the RS frame. Then, the RS frame decoder 533 adds the 1-byte MPEGsynchronization data, which had been removed during the RS frameencoding process, to the error-corrected mobile broadcast service datapacket. Thereafter, the processed data packet is outputted to the dataderandomizer 534. The data derandomizer 534 performs a derandomizingprocess, which corresponds to the inverse process of the randomizerincluded in the transmitting system, on the received mobile broadcastservice data. Thereafter, the derandomized data are outputted, therebyobtaining the mobile broadcast service data transmitted from thetransmitting system.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast service signals via multiple antenna elements andselect and output one of the received mobile broadcast services as asingle signal, thereby demodulating and decoding and, at the same time,outputting the processed signal according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 10, the broadcasting module furtherincludes a storage unit 223 and a memory 224, which are used to performinstant recording, reserved (or pre-programmed) recording, and timeshift on the mobile broadcast service data. Apart from the storage unit223 and the memory 224, the structures and operations of the remainingelements of the telematics terminal are identical to the correspondingelements of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, thedescription of FIG. 10 will mainly be focused on the storage unit 223and the memory 224. Furthermore, the structures and operations of thesynchronization unit 213 and the mobile broadcast service dataprocessing unit 215 are identical to those described in FIG. 7.Therefore, in FIG. 10, a detailed description of the same will beomitted for simplicity.

Either a hard disk drive (HDD) or a detachable external memory unit maybe used as the storage unit 223. More specifically, the mobile broadcastservice data demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 216 may be outputted tothe A/V decoder 217 or the data decoder 218. Alternatively, based uponthe control of the memory controller 224, the demultiplexed mobilebroadcast service data may also be written (or recorded) in the storageunit 213. When the user selects one of instant recording, reserved (orpre-programmed) recording, and time shift, the memory controller 224records the corresponding mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed bythe demultiplexer 216 in the storage unit 213. Additionally, when theuser selects the playback of the mobile broadcast service data stored inthe storage unit 223, the mobile broadcast service data stored in thestorage unit 223 is read and outputted based upon the control of thememory controller 224. Subsequently, after being decoded by the A/Vdecoder 217 or the data decoder 218, the decoded mobile broadcastservice data may be provided to the user.

The storage controller 224 may control the fast-forward, rewind, slowmotion, and instant replay functions of the data that are stored in thestorage unit 223. Herein, the instant replay function corresponds torepeatedly viewing scenes that the viewer (or user) wishes to view onceagain. The instant replay function may be performed on stored data andalso on data that are currently being received in real time byassociating the instant replay function with the time shift function. Inorder to prevent illegal duplication (or copies) of the input data beingstored in the storage unit 223, the storage controller 224 scrambles theinput data and stores the scrambled data in the storage unit 223. Also,based upon the playback command of the user, the memory controller 224reads and outputs the data scrambled and stored in the storage unit 223,so as to descramble the read data, thereby outputting the descrambleddata to the demultiplexer 216. According to another embodiment of thepresent invention, the above-described functions of the memorycontroller 224 and the storage unit 223, such as the instant recording,pre-programmed recording, time shift, playback, and instant replay, maybe performed by the write/read media driver 104 instead of the storageunit 223.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block view showing a structure of a telematicsterminal provided with a broadcasting module that can receive VSB modemobile broadcast services via multiple antenna elements and select andoutput one of the received mobile broadcast services as a single signal,thereby demodulating and decoding and, at the same time, outputting theprocessed signal according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 11, the broadcasting module furtherincludes a descrambler 225 between the demultiplexer 216 and the A/Vdecoder 217, which is used to descramble the mobile broadcast servicedata that are scrambled and outputted from the transmitting system.Apart from the descrambler 225, the structures and operations of theremaining elements of the telematics terminal are identical to thecorresponding elements of the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 3.Therefore, the description of FIG. 11 will mainly be focused on thedescrambler 225. Furthermore, the structures and operations of thesynchronization unit 213 and the mobile broadcast service dataprocessing unit 215 are identical to those described in FIG. 7.Therefore, in FIG. 11, a detailed description of the same will beomitted for simplicity.

Referring to FIG. 11, the descrambler 225 is provided between thedemultiplexer 216 and the A/V decoder 217. However, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the descrambler 225 may also beprovided between the demultiplexer 216 and the data decoder 218. Also,an authenticator (not shown) may further be provided in eachdescrambler. Alternatively, a separate authenticator (not shown) may beprovided so as to control the scrambling of the two descramblers. Theauthentication process may also be performed by the control unit 100.When the mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed by thedemultiplexer 216 are scrambled, the descrambler 225 descrambles thecorresponding data and outputs the descrambled data to the A/V decoder217. At this point, the descrambler 225 receives the authenticationresult and/or data required for the descrambling process, which are thenused to descramble the corresponding data.

More specifically, in order to provide service to prevent thetransmitted mobile broadcast service data from being illegallyduplicated (or copied) or viewed, or in order to provide chargedbroadcast services, the broadcasting station may scramble the mobilebroadcast service data and transmit the scrambled data. Accordingly,since the descrambler 225 is required to descramble the scrambled mobilebroadcast service data, an authentication process may be performed by anauthentication means prior to the descrambling process. Herein, thedescrambler 225 may also be provided as a detachable unit of thetelematics terminals in the form of a slot or a memory stick.

In order to perform the descrambling process, the descrambler 225 mayperform the authentication process. Herein, the authentication processdetermines whether the telematics terminal is a legitimate host entitledto receive the charged mobile broadcast service data (i.e., chargedbroadcast programs (or contents)). For example, the authenticationprocess may be carried out by comparing an internet protocol (IP)address of an IP datagram, which is included in the broadcast program(or contents) being received, to a unique address of the correspondingtelematics terminal. Herein, the unique address of the telematicsterminal may correspond to a media access control (MAC) address.

According to another embodiment of the authentication process,identification (ID) information pre-standardized by the transmittingsystem and receiving system may be defined. Then, the transmittingsystem may transmit ID information of the telematics terminal that hasrequested the charged broadcast service. Accordingly, the telematicsterminal may determine the authenticity between its own identificationnumber and the ID information received from the transmitting system,thereby performing the authentication process. The transmitting systemgenerates a database so as to store the unique ID information of thetelematics terminal that has requested the charged broadcast service.Thereafter, when scrambling the charged mobile broadcast service data,the transmitting system include an entitlement management message (EMM)in the ID information and transmits the processed ID information.Alternatively, when the corresponding mobile broadcast service data arescrambled, a message (e.g., entitlement control message (ECM) or EMM),such as a conditional access system (CAS) information, mode information,message position information, and so on, which are applied in thescrambling process, may be transmitted via a corresponding data headeror another packet.

More specifically, the ECM may include a control word (CW) that is usedin the scrambling process. At this point, the control word may beencoded (or encrypted) with an authentication key. The EMM may includean authentication key and entitlement information of the correspondingdata header. The authentication information may be encoded with a uniquedistribution key of the telematics terminal. When the mobile broadcastservice data are scrambled by using the control word (CW), and when theinformation required for authentication and the information fordescrambling are transmitted from the transmitting system, thetransmitting system may encode the control word (CW) with anauthentication key, which is then included in an entitlement controlmessage (ECM) and transmitted.

Furthermore, the transmitting system includes the authentication keyused for encoding the control word (CW) and a reception entitlement ofthe telematics terminal (e.g., a standardized serial number of atelematics terminal that is entitled to receive data) in an entitlementmanagement message (EMM), which is then transmitted. Therefore, thetelematics terminal may extract its unique ID information and mayextract the ID information included in the EMM of the mobile broadcastservice data being received, so as to determine the authenticity betweenthe extracted ID information, thereby carrying out the authenticationprocess. If the authentication result shows that the ID information areidentical, the corresponding telematics terminals may be determined as alegitimate receiver entitled to receive data.

According to yet another embodiment of the authentication process, thetelematics terminal may be provided with an authenticator on adetachable external (or outer) module. At this point, the telematicsterminal and the outer module are interfaced via a common interface(CI). More specifically, the outer module may receiver scrambled datafrom the telematics terminal via the common interface (CI), therebydescrambling the received data. Alternatively, the telematics terminalmay also selectively transmit only the information required for thedescrambling process to the corresponding telematics terminal.Furthermore, the common interface (CI) may be configured of one physicallayer and at least one protocol layer. Herein, in consideration of afuture expansion, the protocol layer may include at least one layer eachproviding an independent function.

The outer module may correspond to a memory or card having nodescrambling function yet having key information and authenticationinformation, which were used in the scrambling process, stored therein.Alternatively, the outer module may also correspond to a card includinga descrambling function. More specifically, the module may include thedescrambling function in the form of middleware or software. At thispoint, the telematics terminal and the outer module should both beauthenticated in order to be able to provide the user with the chargedmobile broadcast service data, which are supplied by the transmittingsystem. Therefore, the transmitting system may provide the chargedmobile broadcast service data only to the authenticated telematicsterminal and module pair. Thus, the telematics terminal and outer modulemay be mutually authenticated (or processed with two-way authentication)via the common interface (CI). The outer module may also communicatewith the control unit 100 of the telematics terminal, therebyauthenticating the corresponding telematics terminal.

The telematics terminal may authenticate the outer module via the commoninterface. And, the module may extract the unique ID of the telematicsterminal and its own unique ID during the mutual authentication (ortwo-way authentication) process, which are then transmitted to thetransmitting system. Thereafter, the transmitting system uses thereceived ID information (or value) as information for determiningwhether to start the requested service or as charged fee information.When required, the control unit 100 may transmit the charged feeinformation to a transmitting system located in a remote site via thetelecommunication module 102. Furthermore, the telematics terminal mayalso receive authentication-associated data from a mobiletelecommunications service provider to which the user is subscribed,instead of receiving the authentication-associated data from thetransmitting system that provides the mobile broadcast service data. Inthis case, the authentication-associated data may be scrambled by thetransmitting system that provides the mobile broadcast service data andtransmitted by passing through the domestic carrier. Otherwise, theauthentication-associated data may be scrambled by the domestic carrierand then transmitted.

According to yet another embodiment of the authentication process, theauthentication process may be performed using software without having todepend on hardware. More specifically, when a memory card havingsoftware pre-stored therein by downloading CAS software is inserted, thetelematics terminal receives the CAS software from the inserted memorycard. Thereafter, the CAS software is loaded so as to perform theauthentication process. Herein, a flash memory or a compact hard diskmay be used as the memory card. The memory card may be used in at leastone telematics terminal depending upon the contents, authentication,scrambling, fee-charging of the CAS software stored therein. However,the CAS software includes at least information required for theauthentication process and information required for the descramblingprocess.

The CAS software read from the memory card is stored in a storage unit(e.g., flash memory 222) within the telematics terminal. Then, thestored CAS software may be operated on the middleware in the form of anapplication. In this example, a Java middleware will be given as themiddleware. Herein, the outer interface unit 105 may include a commoninterface (CI) in order to be connected with the flash memory 222. Inthis case, an authentication process between the transmitting system andtelematics terminal or between the telematics terminal and memory cardis performed. The memory card entitled to receive data may includeinformation on an ordinary (or normal) authenticatable telematicsterminal. For example, information on the telematics terminal includesunique information, such as a standardized serial number, on thecorresponding telematics terminal. Therefore, the authentication processbetween the memory card and telematics terminal may be performed bycomparing the unique information, such as the standardized serialnumber, included in the memory card with the unique information of thecorresponding telematics terminal.

Herein, the authentication process between the telematics terminal andmemory card may be performed while the CAS software performs a Javamiddleware-based execution (or operation). For example, the telematicsterminal determines whether the unique serial number of the telematicsterminal, which is included in the CAS software, identically matches theunique serial number of the telematics terminal, which has been read bythe control unit 100 of the telematics terminal. Then, when thecomparison result shows that the two unique serial numbers, thecorresponding memory card is determined to be a normal memory card,which can be used by the telematics terminal. At this point, the CASsoftware may also be equipped in the flash memory 222 prior to theshipping of the telematics terminal. Alternatively, the CAS software maybe stored in the flash memory 222 from the transmitting system, themodule or memory card. The descrambling function may be operated in theform of an application by the data broadcasting application.

The CAS software parses the EMM/ECM packet outputted from thedemultiplexer 216 in order to verify whether the correspondingtelematics terminal is entitled to receive data. Thus, the CAS softwaremay obtain information required for the descrambling process (i.e., aCW) and provide the information to the descrambler 225. The CAS softwareperforming Java middleware-based operation reads the unique number ofthe corresponding telematics terminal. Then, the CAS software comparesthe read unique number with the unique number of the telematics terminalthat is transmitted to the EMM, thereby verifying whether thecorresponding telematics terminal is entitled to receive data. Once theentitlement of the telematics terminal is verified, the correspondingmobile broadcast service information transmitted to the ECM and theentitlement of the corresponding mobile broadcast service are used toverify whether the telematics terminal is entitled to receive thecorresponding mobile broadcast service.

Once the entitlement of receiving the corresponding (or requested)mobile broadcast service is verified, the authentication key transmittedto the EMM is used to decipher the encoded (or encrypted) control word(CW), which is transmitted to the ECM. Thereafter, the decipheredcontrol word is outputted to the descrambler 225. The descrambler 225then uses the control word to descramble the mobile broadcast service.Meanwhile, the CAS software that is stored in the memory card may beexpanded depending upon a charged mobile broadcast service that is to beprovided by the broadcasting station. Also, the CAS software may alsoinclude other supplemental (or additional) information other thaninformation associated with authentication or descrambling. Thetelematics terminal may also download the CAS software from thetransmitting system, thereby upgrading the CAS software already storedin the memory card.

Similar to the telematics terminal shown in FIG. 10, the telematicsterminal of FIG. 11 may also further include a storage unit 223 and amemory controller 224. Also, the scrambled mobile broadcast service datathat are received may also either be directly stored in the storage unit223 without modification or be descrambled and then stored in thestorage unit 223. Alternatively, the mobile broadcast service data mayalso be stored in a write/read medium inserted in the write/read mediadriver 104 instead of the storage unit 223. If the mobile broadcastservice data stored in the write/read medium inserted in the write/readmedia driver 104 instead or in the storage unit 223 are scrambled, thecorresponding data may be descrambled after an authentication processwhen being played (or reproduced).

More specifically, also in FIG. 11, the mobile broadcast service datademultiplexed by the demultiplexer 216 may be outputted to the A/Vdecoder 217 or the data decoder 218. Alternatively, based upon thecontrol of the memory controller 224, the demultiplexed mobile broadcastservice data may also be written (or recorded) in the storage unit 213.When the user selects one of instant recording, reserved (orpre-programmed) recording, and time shift, the memory controller 224records the corresponding mobile broadcast service data demultiplexed bythe demultiplexer 216 in the storage unit 213. Additionally, when theuser selects the playback of the mobile broadcast service data stored inthe storage unit 223, the mobile broadcast service data stored in thestorage unit 223 is read and outputted based upon the control of thememory controller 224. Subsequently, after being decoded by the A/Vdecoder 217 or the data decoder 218, the decoded mobile broadcastservice data may be provided to the user.

The memory controller 224 may control the fast-forward, rewind, slowmotion, and instant replay functions of the data that are stored in thestorage unit 223. Herein, the instant replay function corresponds torepeatedly viewing scenes that the viewer (or user) wishes to view onceagain. The instant replay function may be performed on stored data andalso on data that are currently being received in real time byassociating the instant replay function with the time shift function.Also, when the memory controller 224 is provided with ascramble/descramble algorithm, the memory controller 224 may scramblethe scrambled and received mobile broadcast service data once again,thereby storing the re-scrambled mobile broadcast service data in thestorage unit 223. Alternatively, the memory controller 224 may scramblethe mobile broadcast service data, which have not been scrambled, andstore the scrambled mobile broadcast service data in the storage unit.Then, playing-back the data, the memory controller 224 may descramblethe stored mobile broadcast data and output the descrambled data to thedemultiplexer 216.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart showing process steps of a method forprocessing broadcast signals according to the present invention. Morespecifically, when the user selects a mobile broadcast service (S1201),the signal selector/receiver 211 verifies whether the selected mobilebroadcast service data signal is received in the same frequency band andvia multiple paths (S1202). At this point, when a mobile broadcastservice data signal is not received in the same frequency band and viamultiple paths, the received mobile broadcast service data signal isconsidered as a single mobile broadcast service data signal andprocessed accordingly (S1205). In step 1202, when the signalselector/receiver 211 determines that the selected mobile broadcastservice data signal is received via multiple paths, the signalselector/receiver 211 compares the signal strength of each mobilebroadcast service data signal received via multiple paths.

Based upon the compared result, the signal selector/receiver 211 selectsonly one of the mobile broadcast service data signals that are receivedvia multiple paths (S1204). For example, among the mobile broadcastservice data signals that are received via multiple paths, the signalselector/receiver 211 may select the mobile broadcast service datasignal having the most excellent receive sensitivity. According toanother embodiment of the present invention, the mobile broadcastservice data signals that are received via multiple paths may becombined into one signal, thereby being outputted as a single mobilebroadcast service data signal.

Subsequently, the single mobile broadcast service data signal outputtedin step 1204 is processed (S1205). More specifically, the signalselector/receiver 211 outputs the single mobile broadcast service datasignal to the synchronization unit 213. Thereafter, the synchronizationunit 213 demodulates and channel-equalizes the single mobile broadcastservice data signal. Then, the processed signal is outputted to themobile broadcast service data processing unit 215 so as to be errorcorrection decoded. The mobile broadcast service data processed by themobile broadcast service data processing unit 215 are decoded by an A/Vdecoder 217 and/or a data decoder 218 and, then, simultaneouslyoutputted to an output device, based upon the control of the controlunit 100 (S1206).

MPH Frame Structure

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mobile broadcast servicedata including traffic information are first multiplexed with mainbroadcast service data in MPH frame units and, then, modulated in a VSBmode and transmitted to the receiving system. At this point, one MPHframe consists of K1 number of sub-frames, wherein one sub-frameincludes K2 number of slots. Also, each slot may be configured of K3number of data packets. In the embodiment of the present invention, K1will be set to 5, K2 will be set to 16, and K3 will be set to 156 (i.e.,K1=5, K2=16, and K3=156). The values for K1, K2, and K3 presented inthis embodiment either correspond to values according to a preferredembodiment or are merely exemplary. Therefore, the above-mentionedvalues will not limit the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a structure of a MPH frame for transmitting andreceiving mobile broadcast service data according to the presentinvention. In the example shown in FIG. 13, one MPH frame consists of 5sub-frames, wherein each sub-frame includes 16 slots. In this case, theMPH frame according to the present invention includes 5 sub-frames and80 slots. Also, in a packet level, one slot is configured of 156 datapackets (i.e., transport stream packets), and in a symbol level, oneslot is configured of 156 data segments. Herein, the size of one slotcorresponds to one half (½) of a VSB field. More specifically, since one207-byte data packet has the same amount of data as a data segment, adata packet prior to being interleaved may also be used as a datasegment. At this point, two VSB fields are grouped to form a VSB frame.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary structure of a VSB frame, wherein oneVSB frame consists of 2 VSB fields (i.e., an odd field and an evenfield). Herein, each VSB field includes a field synchronization segmentand 312 data segments. The slot corresponds to a basic time period formultiplexing the mobile broadcast service data and the main broadcastservice data. Herein, one slot may either include the mobile broadcastservice data or be configured only of the main broadcast service data.If one MPH frame is transmitted during one slot, the first 118 datapackets within the slot correspond to a data group. And, the remaining38 data packets become the main broadcast service data packets. Inanother example, when no data group exists in a slot, the correspondingslot is configured of 156 main broadcast service data packets.Meanwhile, when the slots are assigned to a VSB frame, an off-set existsfor each assigned position.

FIG. 15 illustrates a mapping example of the positions to which thefirst 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned with respect to a VSB frame ina space region. And, FIG. 16 illustrates a mapping example of thepositions to which the first 4 slots of a sub-frame are assigned withrespect to a VSB frame in a time region. Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG.16, a 38^(th) data packet (TS packet #37) of a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0) ismapped to the 1^(st) data packet of an odd VSB field. A 38^(th) datapacket (TS packet #37) of a 2^(nd) slot (Slot #1) is mapped to the157^(th) data packet of an odd VSB field. Also, a 38^(th) data packet(TS packet #37) of a 3^(rd) slot (Slot #2) is mapped to the 1^(st) datapacket of an even VSB field. And, a 38^(th) data packet (TS packet #37)of a 4^(th) slot (Slot #3) is mapped to the 157^(th) data packet of aneven VSB field. Similarly, the remaining 12 slots within thecorresponding sub-frame are mapped in the subsequent VSB frames usingthe same method.

Meanwhile, one data group may be divided into at least one or morehierarchical regions. And, depending upon the characteristics of eachhierarchical region, the type of mobile broadcast service data beinginserted in each region may vary. For example, the data group withineach region may be divided (or categorized) based upon the receivingperformance. In an example given in the present invention, a data groupis divided into regions A, B, C, and D in a data configuration prior todata deinterleaving.

FIG. 17 illustrates an alignment of data after being data interleavedand identified. FIG. 18 illustrates an enlarged portion of the datagroup shown in FIG. 17 for a better understanding of the presentinvention. FIG. 19 illustrates an alignment of data before being datainterleaved and identified. And, FIG. 20 illustrates an enlarged portionof the data group shown in FIG. 19 for a better understanding of thepresent invention. More specifically, a data structure identical to thatshown in FIG. 17 is transmitted to a receiving system. In other words,one data packet is data-interleaved so as to be scattered to a pluralityof data segments, thereby being transmitted to the receiving system.FIG. 17 illustrates an example of one data group being scattered to 170data segments. At this point, since one 207-byte packet has the sameamount of data as one data segment, the packet that is not yet processedwith data-interleaving may be used as the data segment.

FIG. 17 shows an example of dividing a data group prior to beingdata-interleaved into 10 MPH blocks (i.e., MPH block 1 (B1) to MPH block10 (B10)). In this example, each MPH block has the length of 16segments. Referring to FIG. 17, only the RS parity data are allocated toportions of the first 5 segments of the MPH block 1 (B1) and the last 5segments of the MPH block 10 (B10). The RS parity data are excluded inregions A to D of the data group. More specifically, when it is assumedthat one data group is divided into regions A, B, C, and D, each MPHblock may be included in any one of region A to region D depending uponthe characteristic of each MPH block within the data group.

Herein, the data group is divided into a plurality of regions to be usedfor different purposes. More specifically, a region of the mainbroadcast service data having no interference or a very low interferencelevel may be considered to have a more resistant (or stronger) receivingperformance as compared to regions having higher interference levels.Additionally, when using a system inserting and transmitting known datain the data group, wherein the known data are known based upon anagreement between the transmitting system and the receiving system, andwhen consecutively long known data are to be periodically inserted inthe mobile broadcast service data, the known data having a predeterminedlength may be periodically inserted in the region having no interferencefrom the main broadcast service data (i.e., a region wherein the mainbroadcast service data are not mixed). However, due to interference fromthe main broadcast service data, it is difficult to periodically insertknown data and also to insert consecutively long known data to a regionhaving interference from the main broadcast service data.

Referring to FIG. 17, MPH block 4 (B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) correspond toregions without interference of the main broadcast service data. MPHblock 4 (B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) within the data group shown in FIG. 17correspond to a region where no interference from the main broadcastservice data occurs. In this example, a long known data sequence isinserted at both the beginning and end of each MPH block. In thedescription of the present invention, the region including MPH block 4(B4) to MPH block 7 (B7) will be referred to as “region A(=B4+B5+B6+B7)”. As described above, when the data group includes regionA having a long known data sequence inserted at both the beginning andend of each MPH block, the receiving system is capable of performingequalization by using the channel information that can be obtained fromthe known data. Therefore, the strongest equalizing performance may beyielded (or obtained) from one of region A to region D.

In the example of the data group shown in FIG. 17, MPH block 3 (B3) andMPH block 8 (B8) correspond to a region having little interference fromthe main broadcast service data. Herein, a long known data sequence isinserted in only one side of each MPH block B3 and B8. Morespecifically, due to the interference from the main broadcast servicedata, a long known data sequence is inserted at the end of MPH block 3(B3), and another long known data sequence is inserted at the beginningof MPH block 8 (B8). In the present invention, the region including MPHblock 3 (B3) and MPH block 8 (B8) will be referred to as “regionB(=B3+B8)”. As described above, when the data group includes region Bhaving a long known data sequence inserted at only one side (beginningor end) of each MPH block, the receiving system is capable of performingequalization by using the channel information that can be obtained fromthe known data. Therefore, a stronger equalizing performance as comparedto region C/D may be yielded (or obtained).

Referring to FIG. 17, MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9) correspondto a region having more interference from the main broadcast servicedata as compared to region B. A long known data sequence cannot beinserted in any side of MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9). Herein,the region including MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 9 (B9) will bereferred to as “region C(=B2+B9)”. Finally, in the example shown in FIG.17, MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10) correspond to a regionhaving more interference from the main broadcast service data ascompared to region C. Similarly, a long known data sequence cannot beinserted in any side of MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10). Herein,the region including MPH block 1 (B1) and MPH block 10 (B10) will bereferred to as “region D (=B1+B10)”. Since region C/D is spaced furtherapart from the known data sequence, when the channel environmentundergoes frequent and abrupt changes, the receiving performance ofregion C/D may be deteriorated.

FIG. 19 illustrates a data structure prior to data interleaving. Morespecifically, FIG. 19 illustrates an example of 118 data packets beingallocated to a data group. FIG. 19 shows an example of a data groupconsisting of 118 data packets, wherein, based upon a reference packet(e.g., a 1^(st) packet (or data segment) or 157^(th) packet (or datasegment) after a field synchronization signal), when allocating datapackets to a VSB frame, 37 packets are included before the referencepacket and 81 packets (including the reference packet) are includedafterwards. In other words, with reference to FIG. 17, a fieldsynchronization signal is placed (or assigned) between MPH block 2 (B2)and MPH block 3 (B3). Accordingly, this indicates that the slot has anoff-set of 37 data packets with respect to the corresponding VSB field.The size of the data groups, number of hierarchical regions within thedata group, the size of each region, the number of MPH blocks includedin each region, the size of each MPH block, and so on described aboveare merely exemplary. Therefore, the present invention will not belimited to the examples described above.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary assignment order of data groups beingassigned to one of 5 sub-frames, wherein the 5 sub-frames configure anMPH frame. For example, the method of assigning data groups may beidentically applied to all MPH frames or differently applied to each MPHframe. Furthermore, the method of assigning data groups may beidentically applied to all sub-frames or differently applied to eachsub-frame. At this point, when it is assumed that the data groups areassigned using the same method in all sub-frames of the correspondingMPH frame, the total number of data groups being assigned to an MPHframe is equal to a multiple of ‘5’. According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, a plurality of consecutive data groups is assigned tobe spaced as far apart from one another as possible within the MPHframe. Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptly andeffectively to any burst error that may occur within a sub-frame.

For example, when it is assumed that 3 data groups are assigned to asub-frame, the data groups are assigned to a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0), a5^(th) slot (Slot #4), and a 9^(th) slot (Slot #8) in the sub-frame,respectively. FIG. 21 illustrates an example of assigning 16 data groupsin one sub-frame using the above-described pattern (or rule). In otherwords, each data group is serially assigned to 16 slots corresponding tothe following numbers: 0, 8, 4, 12, 1, 9, 5, 13, 2, 10, 6, 14, 3, 11, 7,and 15. Equation 1 below shows the above-described rule (or pattern) forassigning data groups in a sub-frame.j=(4i+0) mod 16  Equation 1Herein,0=0 if i<4,0=2 else if i<80=1 else if i<12,0=3 else.

Herein, j indicates the slot number within a sub-frame. The value of jmay range from 0 to 15 (i.e., 0≦j≦15). Also, variable i indicates thedata group number. The value of i may range from 0 to 15 (i.e., 0≦i≦15).

In the present invention, a collection of data groups included in a MPHframe will be referred to as a “parade”. Based upon the RS frame mode,the parade transmits data of at least one specific RS frame. The mobilebroadcast service data within one RS frame may be assigned either to allof regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group, or to at leastone of regions A/B/C/D. In the embodiment of the present invention, themobile broadcast service data within one RS frame may be assigned eitherto all of regions A/B/C/D, or to at least one of regions A/B and regionsC/D. If the mobile broadcast service data are assigned to the lattercase (i.e., one of regions A/B and regions C/D), the RS frame beingassigned to regions A/B and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/Dwithin the corresponding data group are different from one another.

In the description of the present invention, the RS frame being assignedto regions A/B within the corresponding data group will be referred toas a “primary RS frame”, and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/Dwithin the corresponding data group will be referred to as a “secondaryRS frame”, for simplicity. Also, the primary RS frame and the secondaryRS frame form (or configure) one parade. More specifically, when themobile broadcast service data within one RS frame are assigned either toall of regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group, one paradetransmits one RS frame. Conversely, when the mobile broadcast servicedata within one RS frame are assigned either to at least one of regionsA/B and regions C/D, one parade may transmit up to 2 RS frames. Morespecifically, the RS frame mode indicates whether a parade transmits oneRS frame, or whether the parade transmits two RS frames. Table 1 belowshows an example of the RS frame mode.

TABLE 1 RS frame mode (2 bits) Description 00 There is only one primaryRS frame for all group regions 01 There are two separate RS frames.Primary RS frame for group regions A and B Secondary RS frame for groupregions C and D 10 Reserved 11 Reserved

Table 1 illustrates an example of allocating 2 bits in order to indicatethe RS frame mode. For example, referring to Table 1, when the RS framemode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that one parade transmitsone RS frame. And, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, thisindicates that one parade transmits two RS frames, i.e., the primary RSframe and the secondary RS frame. More specifically, when the RS framemode value is equal to ‘01’, data of the primary RS frame for regionsA/B are assigned and transmitted to regions A/B of the correspondingdata group. Similarly, data of the secondary RS frame for regions C/Dare assigned and transmitted to regions C/D of the corresponding datagroup.

Additionally, one RS frame transmits one ensemble. Herein, the ensembleis a collection of services requiring the same quality of service (QOS)and being encoded with the same FEC codes. More specifically, when oneparade is configured of one RS frame, then one parade transmits oneensemble. Conversely, when one parade is configured of two RS frames,i.e., when one parade is configured of a primary RS frame and asecondary RS frame, then one parade transmits two ensembles (i.e., aprimary ensemble and a secondary ensemble). More specifically, theprimary ensemble is transmitted through a primary RS frame of a parade,and the secondary ensemble is transmitted through a secondary RS frameof a parade. The RS frame is a 2-dimensional data frame through which anensemble is RS-CRC encoded.

As described in the assignment of data groups, the parades are alsoassigned to be spaced as far apart from one another as possible withinthe sub-frame. Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptlyand effectively to any burst error that may occur within a sub-frame.Furthermore, the method of assigning parades may be identically appliedto all sub-frames or differently applied to each sub-frame. According tothe embodiment of the present invention, the parades may be assigneddifferently for each MPH frame and identically for all sub-frames withinan MPH frame. More specifically, the MPH frame structure may vary by MPHframe units. Thus, an ensemble rate may be adjusted on a more frequentand flexible basis.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of multiple data groups of a singleparade being assigned (or allocated) to an MPH frame. More specifically,FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a plurality of data groups included ina single parade, wherein the number of data groups included in asub-frame is equal to ‘3’, being allocated to an MPH frame. Referring toFIG. 22, 3 data groups are sequentially assigned to a sub-frame at acycle period of 4 slots. Accordingly, when this process is equallyperformed in the 5 sub-frames included in the corresponding MPH frame,15 data groups are assigned to a single MPH frame. Herein, the 15 datagroups correspond to data groups included in a parade. Therefore, sinceone sub-frame is configured of 4 VSB frame, and since 3 data groups areincluded in a sub-frame, the data group of the corresponding parade isnot assigned to one of the 4 VSB frames within a sub-frame.

For example, when it is assumed that one parade transmits one RS frame,and that a RS frame encoder located in a later block performsRS-encoding on the corresponding RS frame, thereby adding 24 bytes ofparity data to the corresponding RS frame and transmitting the processedRS frame, the parity data occupy approximately 11.37% (=24/(187+24)×100)of the total code word length. Meanwhile, when one sub-frame includes 3data groups, and when the data groups included in the parade areassigned, as shown in FIG. 22, a total of 15 data groups form an RSframe. Accordingly, even when an error occurs in an entire data groupdue to a burst noise within a channel, the percentile is merely 6.67%(=1/15×100). Therefore, the receiving system may correct all errors byperforming an erasure RS decoding process. More specifically, when theerasure RS decoding is performed, a number of channel errorscorresponding to the number of RS parity bytes may be corrected. Bydoing so, the receiving system may correct the error of at least onedata group within one parade. Thus, the minimum burst noise lengthcorrectable by a RS frame is over 1 VSB frame.

Meanwhile, when data groups of a parade are assigned as described above,either main broadcast service data may be assigned between each datagroup, or data groups corresponding to different parades may be assignedbetween each data group. More specifically, data groups corresponding tomultiple parades may be assigned to one MPH frame. Basically, the methodof assigning data groups corresponding to multiple parades is verysimilar to the method of assigning data groups corresponding to a singleparade. In other words, data groups included in other parades that areto be assigned to an MPH frame are also respectively assigned accordingto a cycle period of 4 slots. At this point, data groups of a differentparade may be sequentially assigned to the respective slots in acircular method. Herein, the data groups are assigned to slots startingfrom the ones to which data groups of the previous parade have not yetbeen assigned. For example, when it is assumed that data groupscorresponding to a parade are assigned as shown in FIG. 22, data groupscorresponding to the next parade may be assigned to a sub-frame startingeither from the 12^(th) slot of a sub-frame. However, this is merelyexemplary. In another example, the data groups of the next parade mayalso be sequentially assigned to a different slot within a sub-frame ata cycle period of 4 slots starting from the 3^(rd) slot.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of transmitting 3 parades (Parade #0,Parade #1, and Parade #2) to an MPH frame. More specifically, FIG. 23illustrates an example of transmitting parades included in one of 5sub-frames, wherein the 5 sub-frames configure one MPH frame. When the1^(st) parade (Parade #0) includes 3 data groups for each sub-frame, thepositions of each data groups within the sub-frames may be obtained bysubstituting values ‘0’ to ‘2’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically,the data groups of the 1^(st) parade (Parade #0) are sequentiallyassigned to the 1^(st), 5^(th), and 9^(th) slots (Slot #0, Slot #4, andSlot #8) within the sub-frame. Also, when the 2^(nd) parade includes 2data groups for each sub-frame, the positions of each data groups withinthe sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values ‘3’ and ‘4’ for iin Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 2^(nd) parade(Parade #1) are sequentially assigned to the 2^(nd) and 12^(th) slots(Slot #3 and Slot #11) within the sub-frame. Finally, when the 3^(rd)parade includes 2 data groups for each sub-frame, the positions of eachdata groups within the sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values‘5’ and ‘6’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups ofthe 3^(rd) parade (Parade #2) are sequentially assigned to the 7^(th)and 11^(th) slots (Slot #6 and Slot #10) within the sub-frame.

As described above, data groups of multiple parades may be assigned to asingle MPH frame, and, in each sub-frame, the data groups are seriallyallocated to a group space having 4 slots from left to right. Therefore,a number of groups of one parade per sub-frame (NOG) may correspond toany one integer from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Herein, since one MPH frame includes 5sub-frames, the total number of data groups within a parade that can beallocated to an MPH frame may correspond to any one multiple of ‘5’ranging from ‘5’ to ‘40’.

FIG. 24 illustrates an example of expanding the assignment process of 3parades, shown in FIGS. 23, to 5 sub-frames within an MPH frame.

General Description of the Transmitting System

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing a general structure of adigital broadcast transmitting system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Herein, the digital broadcast transmitting includes a servicemultiplexer 1100 and a transmitter 1200. Herein, the service multiplexer1100 is located in the studio of each broadcast station, and thetransmitter 1200 is located in a site placed at a predetermined distancefrom the studio. The transmitter 1200 may be located in a plurality ofdifferent locations. Also, for example, the plurality of transmittersmay share the same frequency. And, in this case, the plurality oftransmitters receives the same signal. Accordingly, in the receivingsystem, a channel equalizer may compensate signal distortion, which iscaused by a reflected wave, so as to recover the original signal. Inanother example, the plurality of transmitters may have differentfrequencies with respect to the same channel.

The receiving system may become a telematics terminal, a mobile phone, aterminal for receiving mobile broadcast. PDA, and a notebook computer,and so on.

A variety of methods may be used for data communication each of thetransmitters, which are located in remote positions, and the servicemultiplexer. For example, an interface standard such as a synchronousserial interface for transport of MPEG-2 data (SMPTE-310M). In theSMPTE-310M interface standard, a constant data rate is decided as anoutput data rate of the service multiplexer. For example, in case of the8VSB mode, the output data rate is 19.39 Mbps, and, in case of the 16VSBmode, the output data rate is 38.78 Mbps. Furthermore, in theconventional 8VSB mode transmitting system, a transport stream (TS)packet having a data rate of approximately 19.39 Mbps may be transmittedthrough a single physical channel. Also, in the transmitting systemaccording to the present invention provided with backward compatibilitywith the conventional transmitting system, additional encoding isperformed on the mobile broadcast service data. Thereafter, theadditionally encoded mobile broadcast service data are multiplexed withthe main broadcast service data to a TS packet form, which is thentransmitted. At this point, the data rate of the multiplexed TS packetis approximately 19.39 Mbps.

At this point, the service multiplexer 1100 receives at least one typeof mobile broadcast service data and program specificinformation/program and system information protocol (PSI/PSIP) tabledata for each mobile broadcast service so as to encapsulate the receiveddata to each TS packet. Also, the service multiplexer 1100 receives atleast one type of main broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table datafor each main broadcast service and encapsulates the received data to atransport stream (TS) packet. Subsequently, the TS packets aremultiplexed according to a predetermined multiplexing rule and outputsthe multiplexed packets to the transmitter 1200.

Service Multiplexer

FIG. 26 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of the servicemultiplexer. The service multiplexer includes a controller 1110 forcontrolling the overall operations of the service multiplexer, aPSI/PSIP generator 1120 for the main broadcast service, a PSI/PSIPgenerator 1130 for the mobile broadcast service, a null packet generator1140, a mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150, and a transportmultiplexer 1160.

The transport multiplexer 1160 may include a main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 and a transport stream (TS) packet multiplexer 1162.

Referring to FIG. 26, at least one type of compression encoded mainbroadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table data generated from thePSI/PSIP generator 1120 for the main broadcast service are inputted tothe main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 of the transport multiplexer1160. The main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 encapsulates each ofthe inputted main broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table data toMPEG-2 TS packet forms. Then, the MPEG-2 TS packets are multiplexed andoutputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162. Herein, the data packetbeing outputted from the main broadcast service multiplexer 1161 will bereferred to as a main broadcast service data packet for simplicity.

Thereafter, at least one type of the compression encoded mobilebroadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table data generated from thePSI/PSIP generator 1130 for the mobile broadcast service are inputted tothe mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.

The mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 encapsulates each of theinputted mobile broadcast service data and PSI/PSIP table data to MPEG-2TS packet forms. Then, the MPEG-2 TS packets are multiplexed andoutputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162. Herein, the data packetbeing outputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 willbe referred to as a mobile broadcast service data packet for simplicity.

At this point, the transmitter 1200 requires identification informationin order to identify and process the main broadcast service data packetand the mobile broadcast service data packet. Herein, the identificationinformation may use values pre-decided in accordance with an agreementbetween the transmitting system and the receiving system, or may beconfigured of a separate set of data, or may modify predeterminedlocation value with in the corresponding data packet.

As an example of the present invention, a different packet identifier(PID) may be assigned to identify each of the main broadcast servicedata packet and the mobile broadcast service data packet.

In another example, by modifying a synchronization data byte within aheader of the mobile broadcast service data, the service data packet maybe identified by using the synchronization data byte value of thecorresponding service data packet. For example, the synchronization byteof the main broadcast service data packet directly outputs the valuedecided by the ISO/IEC13818-1 standard (i.e., 0×47) without anymodification. The synchronization byte of the mobile broadcast servicedata packet modifies and outputs the value, thereby identifying the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket. Conversely, the synchronization byte of the main broadcastservice data packet is modified and outputted, whereas thesynchronization byte of the mobile broadcast service data packet isdirectly outputted without being modified, thereby enabling the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket to be identified.

A plurality of methods may be applied in the method of modifying thesynchronization byte. For example, each bit of the synchronization bytemay be inversed, or only a portion of the synchronization byte may beinversed.

As described above, any type of identification information may be usedto identify the main broadcast service data packet and the mobilebroadcast service data packet. Therefore, the scope of the presentinvention is not limited only to the example set forth in thedescription of the present invention.

Meanwhile, a transport multiplexer used in the conventional digitalbroadcasting system may be used as the transport multiplexer 1160according to the present invention. More specifically, in order tomultiplex the mobile broadcast service data and the main broadcastservice data and to transmit the multiplexed data, the data rate of themain broadcast service is limited to a data rate of (19.39−K) Mbps.Then, K Mbps, which corresponds to the remaining data rate, is assignedas the data rate of the mobile broadcast service. Thus, the transportmultiplexer which is already being used may be used as it is without anymodification.

Herein, the transport multiplexer 1160 multiplexes the main broadcastservice data packet being outputted from the main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 and the mobile broadcast service data packet beingoutputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.Thereafter, the transport multiplexer 1160 transmits the multiplexeddata packets to the transmitter 1200.

However, in some cases, the output data rate of the mobile broadcastservice multiplexer 1150 may not be equal to K Mbps. In this case, themobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 multiplexes and outputs nulldata packets generated from the null packet generator 1140 so that theoutput data rate can reach K Mbps. More specifically, in order to matchthe output data rate of the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 toa constant data rate, the null packet generator 1140 generates null datapackets, which are then outputted to the mobile broadcast servicemultiplexer 1150.

For example, when the service multiplexer 1100 assigns K Mbps of the19.39 Mbps to the mobile broadcast service data, and when the remaining(19.39−K) Mbps is, therefore, assigned to the main broadcast servicedata, the data rate of the mobile broadcast service data that aremultiplexed by the service multiplexer 1100 actually becomes lower thanK Mbps. This is because, in case of the mobile broadcast service data,the pre-processor of the transmitting system performs additionalencoding, thereby increasing the amount of data. Eventually, the datarate of the mobile broadcast service data, which may be transmitted fromthe service multiplexer 1100, becomes smaller than K Mbps.

For example, since the pre-processor of the transmitter performs anencoding process on the mobile broadcast service data at a coding rateof at least 1/2, the amount of the data outputted from the pre-processoris increased to more than twice the amount of the data initiallyinputted to the pre-processor. Therefore, the sum of the data rate ofthe main broadcast service data and the data rate of the mobilebroadcast service data, both being multiplexed by the servicemultiplexer 1100, becomes either equal to or smaller than 19.39 Mbps.

Therefore, in order to match the data rate of the data that are finallyoutputted from the service multiplexer 1100 to a constant data rate(e.g., 19.39 Mbps), an amount of null data packets corresponding to theamount of lacking data rate is generated from the null packet generator1140 and outputted to the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150.Accordingly, the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 encapsulateseach of the mobile broadcast service data and the PSI/PSIP table datathat are being inputted to a MPEG-2 TS packet form. Then, theabove-described TS packets are multiplexed with the null data packetsand, then, outputted to the TS packet multiplexer 1162.

Thereafter, the TS packet multiplexer 1162 multiplexes the mainbroadcast service data packet being outputted from the main broadcastservice multiplexer 1161 and the mobile broadcast service data packetbeing outputted from the mobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150 andtransmits the multiplexed data packets to the transmitter 1200 at a datarate of 19.39 Mbps.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mobilebroadcast service multiplexer 1150 receives the null data packets.However, this is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope of thepresent invention. In other words, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, the TS packet multiplexer 1162 may receive thenull data packets, so as to match the data rate of the finally outputteddata to a constant data rate. Herein, the output path and multiplexingrule of the null data packet is controlled by the controller 1110. Thecontroller 1110 controls the multiplexing processed performed by themobile broadcast service multiplexer 1150, the main broadcast servicemultiplexer 1161 of the transport multiplexer 1160, and the TS packetmultiplexer 1162, and also controls the null data packet generation ofthe null packet generator 1140. At this point, the transmitter 1200discards the null data packets transmitted from the service multiplexer1100 instead of transmitting the null data packets.

Further, in order to allow the transmitter 1200 to discard the null datapackets transmitted from the service multiplexer 1100 instead oftransmitting them, identification information for identifying the nulldata packet is required. Herein, the identification information may usevalues pre-decided in accordance with an agreement between thetransmitting system and the receiving system. For example, the value ofthe synchronization byte within the header of the null data packet maybe modified so as to be used as the identification information.Alternatively, a transport_error_indicator flag may also be used as theidentification information.

In the description of the present invention, an example of using thetransport_error_indicator flag as the identification information will begiven to describe an embodiment of the present invention. In this case,the transport_error_indicator flag of the null data packet is set to‘1’, and the transport_error_indicator flag of the remaining datapackets are reset to ‘0’, so as to identify the null data packet. Morespecifically, when the null packet generator 1140 generates the nulldata packets, if the transport_error_indicator flag from the headerfield of the null data packet is set to ‘1’ and then transmitted, thenull data packet may be identified and, therefore, be discarded. In thepresent invention, any type of identification information foridentifying the null data packets may be used. Therefore, the scope ofthe present invention is not limited only to the examples set forth inthe description of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a transmissionparameter may be included in at least a portion of the null data packet,or at least one table or an operations and maintenance (OM) packet (orOMP) of the PSI/PSIP table for the mobile broadcast service. In thiscase, the transmitter 1200 extracts the transmission parameter andoutputs the extracted transmission parameter to the corresponding blockand also transmits the extracted parameter to the receiving system ifrequired. More specifically, a packet referred to as an OMP is definedfor the purpose of operating and managing the transmitting system. Forexample, the OMP is configured in accordance with the MPEG-2 TS packetformat, and the corresponding PID is given the value of 0x1FFA. The OMPis configured of a 4-byte header and a 184-byte payload. Herein, amongthe 184 bytes, the first byte corresponds to an OM_type field, whichindicates the type of the OM packet.

In the present invention, the transmission parameter may be transmittedin the form of an OMP. And, in this case, among the values of thereserved fields within the OM_type field, a pre-arranged value is used,thereby indicating that the transmission parameter is being transmittedto the transmitter 1200 in the form of an OMP. More specifically, thetransmitter 1200 may find (or identify) the OMP by referring to the PID.Also, by parsing the OM_type field within the OMP, the transmitter 1200can verify whether a transmission parameter is included after theOM_type field of the corresponding packet. The transmission parametercorresponds to supplemental data required for processing mobilebroadcast service data from the transmitting system and the receivingsystem.

The transmission parameter corresponds to supplemental data required forprocessing mobile broadcast service data from the transmitting systemand the receiving system. Herein, the transmission parameter may includedata group information, region information within the data group, blockinformation, RS frame information, super frame information, MPH frameinformation, parade information, ensemble information, informationassociated with serial concatenated convolution code (SCCC), and RS codeinformation. The significance of some information within thetransmission parameters has already been described in detail.Descriptions of other information that have not yet been described willbe in detail in a later process.

The transmission parameter may also include information on how signalsof a symbol domain are encoded in order to transmit the mobile broadcastservice data, and multiplexing information on how the main broadcastservice data and the mobile broadcast service data or various types ofmobile broadcast service data are multiplexed.

The information included in the transmission parameter are merelyexemplary to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. And,the adding and deleting of the information included in the transmissionparameter may be easily modified and changed by anyone skilled in theart. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the examplesproposed in the description set forth herein.

Furthermore, the transmission parameters may be provided from theservice multiplexer 1100 to the transmitter 1200. Alternatively, thetransmission parameters may also be set up by an internal controller(not shown) within the transmitter 1200 or received from an externalsource.

Transmitter

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram showing an example of thetransmitter 1200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Herein, the transmitter 1200 includes a controller 1205, a demultiplexer1210, a packet jitter mitigator 1220, a pre-processor 1230, a packetmultiplexer 1240, a post-processor 1250, a synchronization (sync)multiplexer 1260, and a transmission unit 1270. Herein, when a datapacket is received from the service multiplexer 1100, the demultiplexer1210 should identify whether the received data packet corresponds to amain broadcast service data packet, a mobile broadcast service datapacket, or a null data packet. For example, the demultiplexer 1210 usesthe PID within the received data packet so as to identify the mainbroadcast service data packet and the mobile broadcast service datapacket. Then, the demultiplexer 1210 uses a transport_error_indicatorfield to identify the null data packet. The main broadcast service datapacket identified by the demultiplexer 1210 is outputted to the packetjitter mitigator 1220, the mobile broadcast service data packet isoutputted to the pre-processor 1230, and the null data packet isdiscarded. If a transmission parameter is included in the null datapacket, then the transmission parameter is first extracted and outputtedto the corresponding block. Thereafter, the null data packet isdiscarded.

The pre-processor 1230 performs an additional encoding process of themobile broadcast service data included in the service data packet, whichis demultiplexed and outputted from the demultiplexer 1210. Thepre-processor 1230 also performs a process of configuring a data groupso that the data group may be positioned at a specific place inaccordance with the purpose of the data, which are to be transmitted ona transmission frame. This is to enable the mobile broadcast servicedata to respond swiftly and strongly against noise and channel changes.The pre-processor 1230 may also refer to the transmission parameter whenperforming the additional encoding process. Also, the pre-processor 1230groups a plurality of mobile broadcast service data packets to configurea data group. Thereafter, known data, mobile broadcast service data, RSparity data, and MPEG header are allocated to predetermined regionswithin the data group.

Pre-Processor within Transmitter

FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of apre-processor 1230 according to the present invention. Herein, thepre-processor 1230 includes an MPH frame encoder 1301, a block processor1302, a group formatter 1303, a signaling encoder 1304, and a packetencoder 1304. The MPH frame encoder 1301, which is included in thepre-processor 1230 having the above-described structure, data-randomizesthe mobile broadcast service data that are inputted to the demultiplexer1210, thereby creating a RS frame. Then, the MPH frame encoder 1301performs an encoding process for error correction in RS frame units. TheMPH frame encoder 1301 may include at least one RS frame encoder. Morespecifically, RS frame encoders may be provided in parallel, wherein thenumber of RS frame encoders is equal to the number of parades within theMPH frame. As described above, the MPH frame is a basic time cycleperiod for transmitting at least one parade. Also, each parade consistsof one or two RS frames.

FIG. 29 illustrates a conceptual block diagram of the MPH frame encoder1301 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The MPH frameencoder 1301 includes an input demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309, M number ofRS frame encoders 1310 to 131M-1, and an output multiplexer (MUX) 1320.Herein, M represent the number of parades included in one MPH frame. Theinput demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309 splits input ensembles. Then, the splitinput ensembles decide the RS frame to which the ensembles are to beinputted. Thereafter, the inputted ensembles are outputted to therespective RS frame. At this point, an ensemble may be mapped to each RSframe encoder or parade. For example, when one parade configures one RSframe, the ensembles, RS frames, and parades may each be mapped to be ina one-to-one (1:1) correspondence with one another. More specifically,the data in one ensemble configure a RS frame. And, a RS frame isdivided into a plurality of data groups. Based upon the RS frame mode ofTable 1, the data within one RS frame may be assigned either to all ofregions A/B/C/D within multiple data groups, or to at least one ofregions A/B and regions C/D within multiple data groups.

When the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, i.e., when the data ofthe primary RS frame are assigned to regions A/B of the correspondingdata group and data of the secondary RS frame are assigned to regionsC/D of the corresponding data group, each RS frame encoder creates aprimary RS frame and a secondary RS frame for each parade. Conversely,when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, when the data of theprimary RS frame are assigned to all of regions A/B/C/D, each RS frameencoder creates a RS frame (i.e., a primary RS frame) for each parade.Also, each RS frame encoder divides each RS frame into several portions.Each portion of the RS frame is equivalent to a data amount that can betransmitted by a data group.

The output multiplexer (MUX) 1320 multiplexes portions within M numberof RS frame encoders 1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and then outputtedto the block processor 1302. For example, if one parade transmits two RSframes, portions of primary RS frames within M number of RS frameencoders 1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and outputted. Thereafter,portions of secondary RS frames within M number of RS frame encoders1310 to 131M-1 are multiplexed and transmitted. The input demultiplexer(DEMUX) 1309 and the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320 operate based uponthe control of the control unit 1205. The control unit 1205 may providenecessary (or required) FEC modes to each RS frame encoder. The FEC modeincludes the RS code mode, which will be described in detail in a laterprocess.

FIG. 30 illustrates a detailed block diagram of an RS frame encoderamong a plurality of RS frame encoders within an MPH frame encoder. OneRS frame encoder may include a primary encoder 410 and a secondaryencoder 1420. Herein, the secondary encoder 1420 may or may not operatebased upon the RS frame mode. For example, when the RS frame mode valueis equal to ‘00’, as shown in Table 1, the secondary encoder 1420 doesnot operate. The primary encoder 1410 may include a data randomizer1411, a Reed-Solomon-cyclic redundancy check (RS-CRC) encoder 1412, anda RS frame divider 1413. And, the secondary encoder 1420 may alsoinclude a data randomizer 1421, a RS-CRC encoder 1422, and a RS framedivider 1423.

More specifically, the data randomizer 1411 of the primary encoder 1410receives mobile broadcast service data of a primary ensemble outputtedfrom the output demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1309. Then, after randomizing thereceived mobile broadcast service data, the data randomizer 1411 outputsthe randomized data to the RS-CRC encoder 1412. At this point, since thedata randomizer 1411 performs the randomizing process on the mobilebroadcast service data, the randomizing process that is to be performedby the data randomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250 on the mobilebroadcast service data may be omitted. The data randomizer 1411 may alsodiscard the synchronization byte within the mobile broadcast servicedata packet and perform the randomizing process. This is an option thatmay be chosen by the system designer. In the example given in thepresent invention, the randomizing process is performed withoutdiscarding the synchronization byte within the corresponding mobilebroadcast service data packet.

The RS-CRC encoder 1412 uses at least one of a Reed-Solomon (RS) codeand a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code, so as to perform forward errorcollection (FEC) encoding on the randomized primary ensemble, therebyforming a primary RS frame. Therefore, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 outputsthe newly formed primary RS frame to the RS frame divider 1413. TheRS-CRC encoder 1412 groups a plurality of mobile broadcast service datapackets that is randomized and inputted, so as to create a RS frame.Then, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 performs at least one of an errorcorrection encoding process and an error detection encoding process inRS frame units. Accordingly, robustness may be provided to the mobilebroadcast service data, thereby scattering group error that may occurduring changes in a frequency environment, thereby enabling the mobilebroadcast service data to respond to the frequency environment, which isextremely vulnerable and liable to frequent changes. Also, the RS-CRCencoder 1412 groups a plurality of RS frame so as to create a superframe, thereby performing a row permutation process in super frameunits. The row permutation process may also be referred to as a “rowinterleaving process”. Hereinafter, the process will be referred to as“row permutation” for simplicity.

More specifically, when the RS-CRC encoder 1412 performs the process ofpermuting each row of the super frame in accordance with apre-determined rule, the position of the rows within the super framebefore and after the row permutation process is changed. If the rowpermutation process is performed by super frame units, and even thoughthe section having a plurality of errors occurring therein becomes verylong, and even though the number of errors included in the RS frame,which is to be decoded, exceeds the extent of being able to becorrected, the errors become dispersed within the entire super frame.Thus, the decoding ability is even more enhanced as compared to a singleRS frame.

At this point, as an example of the present invention, RS-encoding isapplied for the error correction encoding process, and a cyclicredundancy check (CRC) encoding is applied for the error detectionprocess in the RS-CRC encoder 1412. When performing the RS-encoding,parity data that are used for the error correction are generated. And,when performing the CRC encoding, CRC data that are used for the errordetection are generated. The CRC data generated by CRC encoding may beused for indicating whether or not the mobile broadcast service datahave been damaged by the errors while being transmitted through thechannel. In the present invention, a variety of error detection codingmethods other than the CRC encoding method may be used, or the errorcorrection coding method may be used to enhance the overall errorcorrection ability of the receiving system. Herein, the RS-CRC encoder1412 refers to a pre-determined transmission parameter provided by thecontrol unit 1205 and/or a transmission parameter provided from theservice multiplexer 1100 so as to perform operations including RS frameconfiguration, RS encoding, CRC encoding, super frame configuration, androw permutation in super frame units.

FIG. 31 illustrates a process of one or two RS frame being divided intoseveral portions, based upon an RS frame mode value, and a process ofeach portion being assigned to a corresponding region within therespective data group. More specifically, FIG. 31(a) shows an example ofthe RS frame mode value being equal to ‘00’. Herein, only the primaryencoder 1410 of FIG. 30 operates, thereby forming one RS frame for oneparade. Then, the RS frame is divided into several portions, and thedata of each portion are assigned to regions A/B/C/D within therespective data group. FIG. 31(b) shows an example of the RS frame modevalue being equal to ‘01’. Herein, both the primary encoder 1410 and thesecondary encoder 1420 of FIG. 30 operate, thereby forming two RS framesfor one parade, i.e., one primary RS frame and one secondary RS frame.Then, the primary RS frame is divided into several portions, and thesecondary RS frame is divided into several portions. At this point, thedata of each portion of the primary RS frame are assigned to regions A/Bwithin the respective data group. And, the data of each portion of thesecondary RS frame are assigned to regions C/D within the respectivedata group.

Detailed Description of the RS Frame

FIG. 32(a) illustrates an example of an RS frame being generated fromthe RS-CRC encoder 1412 according to the present invention. According tothis embodiment, in the RS frame, the length of a column (i.e., numberof rows) is set to 187 bytes, and the length of a row (i.e., number ofcolumn) is set to N bytes. At this point, the value of N, whichcorresponds to the number of columns within an RS frame, can be decidedaccording to Equation 2.

$\begin{matrix}{N = {\left\lfloor \frac{5 \times {NoG} \times {PL}}{187 + P} \right\rfloor - 2}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$

Herein, NoG indicates the number of data groups assigned to a sub-frame.PL represents the number of SCCC payload data bytes assigned to a datagroup. And, P signifies the number of RS parity data bytes added to eachcolumn of the RS frame. Finally, └X┘ is the greatest integer that isequal to or smaller than X.

More specifically, in Equation 2, PL corresponds to the length of an RSframe portion. The value of PL is equivalent to the number of SCCCpayload data bytes that are assigned to the corresponding data group.Herein, the value of PL may vary depending upon the RS frame mode, SCCCblock mode, and SCCC outer code mode. Table 2 to Table 5 belowrespectively show examples of PL values, which vary in accordance withthe RS frame mode, SCCC block mode, and SCCC outer code mode. The SCCCblock mode and the SCCC outer code mode will be described in detail in alater process.

TABLE 2 SCCC outer code mode for Region A for Region B for Region C forRegion D PL 00 00 00 00 9624 00 00 00 01 9372 00 00 01 00 8886 00 00 0101 8634 00 01 00 00 8403 00 01 00 01 8151 00 01 01 00 7665 00 01 01 017413 01 00 00 00 7023 01 00 00 01 6771 01 00 01 00 6285 01 00 01 01 603301 01 00 00 5802 01 01 00 01 5550 01 01 01 00 5064 01 01 01 01 4812Others Reserved

Table 2 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within anRS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCC outercode mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, and when theSCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when it is assumedthat each SCCC outer code mode value of regions A/B/C/D within the datagroup is equal to ‘00’ (i.e., the block processor 1302 of a later blockperforms encoding at a coding rate of 1/2), the PL value within eachdata group of the corresponding RS frame may be equal to 9624 bytes.More specifically, 9624 bytes of mobile broadcast service data withinone RS frame may be assigned to regions A/B/C/D of the correspondingdata group.

TABLE 3 SCCC outer code mode PL 00 9624 01 4812 Others Reserved

Table 3 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within anRS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCC outercode mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, and when theSCCC block mode value is equal to ‘01’.

TABLE 4 SCCC outer code mode for Region A for Region B PL 00 00 7644 0001 6423 01 00 5043 01 01 3822 Others Reserved

Table 4 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within aprimary RS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCCouter code mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, and whenthe SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when each SCCCouter code mode value of regions A/B is equal to ‘00’, 7644 bytes ofmobile broadcast service data within a primary RS frame may be assignedto regions A/B of the corresponding data group.

TABLE 5 SCCC outer code mode for Region C for Region D PL 00 00 1980 0001 1728 01 00 1242 01 01 990 Others Reserved

Table 5 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within asecondary RS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCCouter code mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, and whenthe SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’. For example, when each SCCCouter code mode value of regions C/D is equal to ‘00’, 1980 bytes ofmobile broadcast service data within a secondary RS frame may beassigned to regions C/D of the corresponding data group.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the value of N isequal to or greater than 187 (i.e., N≧187). More specifically, the RSframe of FIG. 32(a) has the size of N(row)×187(column) bytes. Morespecifically, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 first divides the inputted mobilebroadcast service data bytes to units of a predetermined length. Thepredetermined length is decided by the system designer. And, in theexample of the present invention, the predetermined length is equal to187 bytes, and, therefore, the 187-byte unit will be referred to as a“packet” for simplicity. For example, the inputted mobile broadcastservice data may correspond either to an MPEG transport stream (TS)packet configured of 188-byte units or to an IP datagram. Alternatively,the IP datagram may be encapsulated to a TS packet of 188-byte unitsand, then, inputted.

When the mobile broadcast service data that are being inputtedcorrespond to a MPEG transport packet stream configured of 188-byteunits, the first synchronization byte is removed so as to configure a187-byte unit. Then, N number of packets are grouped to form an RSframe. Herein, the synchronization byte is removed because each mobilebroadcast service data packet has the same value. Meanwhile, when theinput mobile broadcast service data of the RS frame do not correspond tothe MPEG TS packet format, the mobile broadcast service data areinputted N number of times in 187-byte units without being processedwith the removing of the MPEG synchronization byte, thereby creating aRS frame.

In addition, when the input data format of the RS frame supports boththe input data corresponding to the MPEG TS packet and the input datanot corresponding to the MPEG TS packet, such information may beincluded in a transmission parameter transmitted from the servicemultiplexer 1100, thereby being sent to the transmitter 1200.Accordingly, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 of the transmitter 1200 receivesthis information to be able to control whether or not to perform theprocess of removing the MPEG synchronization byte. Also, the transmitterprovides such information to the receiving system so as to control theprocess of inserting the MPEG synchronization byte that is to beperformed by the RS frame decoder of the receiving system. Herein, theprocess of removing the synchronization byte may be performed during arandomizing process of the data randomizer 1411 in an earlier process.In this case, the process of the removing the synchronization byte bythe RS-CRC encoder 1412 may be omitted.

Moreover, when adding synchronization bytes from the receiving system,the process may be performed by the data derandomizer instead of the RSframe decoder. Therefore, if a removable fixed byte (e.g.,synchronization byte) does not exist within the mobile broadcast servicedata packet that is being inputted to the RS-CRC encoder 1412, or if themobile broadcast service data that are being inputted are not configuredin a packet format, the mobile broadcast service data that are beinginputted are divided into 187-byte units, thereby configuring a packetfor each 187-byte unit.

Subsequently, N number of packets configured of 187 bytes is grouped toconfigure a RS frame. At this point, the RS frame is configured as a RSframe having the size of N(row)×187(column) bytes, in which 187-bytepackets are sequentially inputted in a row direction. More specifically,each of the N number of columns included in the RS frame includes 187bytes. When the RS frame is created, as shown in FIG. 32(a), the RS-CRCencoder 1412 performs a (Nc,Kc)−RS encoding process on each column, soas to generate Nc−Kc(=P) number of parity bytes. Then, the RS-CRCencoder 1412 adds the newly generated P number of parity bytes after thevery last byte of the corresponding column, thereby creating a column of(187+P) bytes. Herein, as shown in FIG. 32(a), Kc is equal to 187 (i.e.,Kc=187), and Nc is equal to 187+P (i.e., Nc=187+P). Herein, the value ofP may vary depending upon the RS code mode. Table 6 below shows anexample of an RS code mode, as one of the RS encoding information.

TABLE 6 RS code mode RS code Number of Parity Bytes (P) 00 (211, 187) 2401 (223, 187) 36 10 (235, 187) 48 11 Reserved Reserved

Table 6 shows an example of 2 bits being assigned in order to indicatethe RS code mode. The RS code mode represents the number of parity bytescorresponding to the RS frame. For example, when the RS code mode valueis equal to ‘10’, (235, 187)-RS-encoding is performed on the RS frame ofFIG. 32(a), so as to generate 48 parity data bytes. Thereafter, the 48parity bytes are added after the last data byte of the correspondingcolumn, thereby creating a column of 235 data bytes. When the RS framemode value is equal to ‘00’ in Table 1 (i.e., when the RS frame modeindicates a single RS frame), only the RS code mode of the correspondingRS frame is indicated. However, when the RS frame mode value is equal to‘01’ in Table 1 (i.e., when the RS frame mode indicates multiple RSframes), the RS code mode corresponding to a primary RS frame and asecondary RS frame. More specifically, it is preferable that the RS codemode is independently applied to the primary RS frame and the secondaryRS frame.

When such RS encoding process is performed on all N number of columns, aRS frame having the size of N(row)×(187+P)(column) bytes may be created,as shown in FIG. 32(b). Each row of the RS frame is configured of Nbytes. However, depending upon channel conditions between thetransmitting system and the receiving system, error may be included inthe RS frame. When errors occur as described above, CRC data (or CRCcode or CRC checksum) may be used on each row unit in order to verifywhether error exists in each row unit. The RS-CRC encoder 1412 mayperform CRC encoding on the mobile broadcast service data being RSencoded so as to create (or generate) the CRC data. The CRC data beinggenerated by CRC encoding may be used to indicate whether the mobilebroadcast service data have been damaged while being transmitted throughthe channel.

The present invention may also use different error detection encodingmethods other than the CRC encoding method. Alternatively, the presentinvention may use the error correction encoding method to enhance theoverall error correction ability of the receiving system. FIG. 32(c)illustrates an example of using a 2-byte (i.e., 16-bit) CRC checksum asthe CRC data. Herein, a 2-byte CRC checksum is generated for N number ofbytes of each row, thereby adding the 2-byte CRC checksum at the end ofthe N number of bytes. Thus, each row is expanded to (N+2) number ofbytes. Equation 3 below corresponds to an exemplary equation forgenerating a 2-byte CRC checksum for each row being configured of Nnumber of bytes.g(x)=x¹⁶+x¹²+x⁵+1  Equation 3

The process of adding a 2-byte checksum in each row is only exemplary.Therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the exampleproposed in the description set forth herein. As described above, whenthe process of RS encoding and CRC encoding are completed, the(N×187)-byte RS frame is expanded to a (N+2)×(187+P)-byte RS frame.Based upon an error correction scenario of a RS frame expanded asdescribed above, the data bytes within the RS frame are transmittedthrough a channel in a row direction. At this point, when a large numberof errors occur during a limited period of transmission time, errorsalso occur in a row direction within the RS frame being processed with adecoding process in the receiving system. However, in the perspective ofRS encoding performed in a column direction, the errors are shown asbeing scattered. Therefore, error correction may be performed moreeffectively. At this point, a method of increasing the number of paritydata bytes (P) may be used in order to perform a more intense errorcorrection process. However, using this method may lead to a decrease intransmission efficiency. Therefore, a mutually advantageous method isrequired. Furthermore, when performing the decoding process, an erasuredecoding process may be used to enhance the error correctionperformance.

Additionally, the RS-CRC encoder 1412 according to the present inventionalso performs a row permutation (or interleaving) process in super frameunits in order to further enhance the error correction performance whenerror correction the RS frame. FIG. 33(a) to FIG. 33(d) illustrates anexample of performing a row permutation process in super frame unitsaccording to the present invention. More specifically, G number of RSframes RS-CRC-encoded is grouped to form a super frame, as shown in FIG.33(a). At this point, since each RS frame is formed of (N+2)×(187+P)number of bytes, one super frame is configured to have the size of(N+2)×(187+P)×G bytes.

When a row permutation process permuting each row of the super frameconfigured as described above is performed based upon a pre-determinedpermutation rule, the positions of the rows prior to and after beingpermuted (or interleaved) within the super frame may be altered. Morespecifically, the i^(th) row of the super frame prior to theinterleaving process, as shown in FIG. 33(b), is positioned in thej^(th) row of the same super frame after the row permutation process, asshown in FIG. 33(c). The above-described relation between i and j can beeasily understood with reference to a permutation rule as shown inEquation 4 below.j=G(i mod(187+P))+└i/(187+P)┘i=(187+P)(j mod G)+└j/G┘  Equation 4

-   -   where 0≦i, j≦(187+P)G−1; or    -   where 0≦i, j<(187+P)G

Herein, each row of the super frame is configured of (N+2) number ofdata bytes even after being row-permuted in super frame units.

When all row permutation processes in super frame units are completed,the super frame is once again divided into G number of row-permuted RSframes, as shown in FIG. 33(d), and then provided to the RS framedivider 1413. Herein, the number of RS parity bytes and the number ofcolumns should be equally provided in each of the RS frames, whichconfigure a super frame. As described in the error correction scenarioof a RS frame, in case of the super frame, a section having a largenumber of error occurring therein is so long that, even when one RSframe that is to be decoded includes an excessive number of errors(i.e., to an extent that the errors cannot be corrected), such errorsare scattered throughout the entire super frame. Therefore, incomparison with a single RS frame, the decoding performance of the superframe is more enhanced.

The above description of the present invention corresponds to theprocesses of forming (or creating) and encoding an RS frame, when a datagroup is divided into regions A/B/C/D, and when data of an RS frame areassigned to all of regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group.More specifically, the above description corresponds to an embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein one RS frame is transmitted using oneparade. In this embodiment, the secondary encoder 1420 does not operate(or is not active).

Meanwhile, 2 RS frames are transmitting using one parade, the data ofthe primary RS frame may be assigned to regions A/B within the datagroup and be transmitted, and the data of the secondary RS frame may beassigned to regions C/D within the data group and be transmitted. Atthis point, the primary encoder 1410 receives the mobile broadcastservice data that are to be assigned to regions A/B within the datagroup, so as to form the primary RS frame, thereby performingRS-encoding and CRC-encoding. Similarly, the secondary encoder 1420receives the mobile broadcast service data that are to be assigned toregions C/D within the data group, so as to form the secondary RS frame,thereby performing RS-encoding and CRC-encoding. More specifically, theprimary RS frame and the secondary RS frame are created independently.

FIG. 34 illustrates examples of receiving the mobile broadcast servicedata that are to be assigned to regions A/B within the data group, so asto form the primary RS frame, and receives the mobile broadcast servicedata that are to be assigned to regions C/D within the data group, so asto form the secondary RS frame, thereby performing error correctionencoding and error detection encoding on each of the first and secondaryRS frames. More specifically, FIG. 34(a) illustrates an example of theRS-CRC encoder 1412 of the primary encoder 1410 receiving mobilebroadcast service data of the primary ensemble that are to be assignedto regions A/B within the corresponding data group, so as to create anRS frame having the size of N1(row)×187(column). Then, in this example,the primary encoder 1410 performs RS-encoding on each column of the RSframe created as described above, thereby adding P1 number of paritydata bytes in each column. Finally, the primary encoder 1410 performsCRC-encoding on each row, thereby adding a 2-byte checksum in each row.

FIG. 34(b) illustrates an example of the RS-CRC encoder 1422 of thesecondary encoder 1420 receiving mobile broadcast service data of thesecondary ensemble that are to be assigned to regions C/D within thecorresponding data group, so as to create an RS frame having the size ofN2(row)×187 (column). Then, in this example, the secondary encoder 1420performs RS-encoding on each column of the RS frame created as describedabove, thereby adding P2 number of parity data bytes in each column.Finally, the secondary encoder 1420 performs CRC-encoding on each row,thereby adding a 2-byte checksum in each row. At this point, each of theRS-CRC encoders 412 and 422 may refer to a pre-determined transmissionparameter provided by the control unit 1205 and/or a transmissionparameter provided from the service multiplexer 1100, the RS-CRCencoders 412 and 422 may be informed of RS frame information (includingRS frame mode), RS encoding information (including RS code mode), SCCCinformation (including SCCC block information and SCCC outer code mode),data group information, and region information within a data group. TheRS-CRC encoders 412 and 422 may refer to the transmission parameters forthe purpose of RS frame configuration, error correction encoding, errordetection encoding. Furthermore, the transmission parameters should alsobe transmitted to the receiving system so that the receiving system canperform a normal decoding process.

The data of the primary RS frame, which is encoded by RS frame units androw-permuted by super frame units from the RS-CRC encoder 1412 of theprimary encoder 1410, are outputted to the RS frame divider 1413. If thesecondary encoder 1420 also operates in the embodiment of the presentinvention, the data of the secondary RS frame, which is encoded by RSframe units and row-permuted by super frame units from the RS-CRCencoder 1422 of the secondary encoder 1420, are outputted to the RSframe divider 1423. The RS frame divider 1413 of the primary encoder1410 divides the primary RS frame into several portions, which are thenoutputted to the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320. Each portion of theprimary RS frame is equivalent to a data amount that can be transmittedby one data group. Similarly, the RS frame divider 1423 of the secondaryencoder 1420 divides the secondary RS frame into several portions, whichare then outputted to the output multiplexer (MUX) 1320.

Hereinafter, the RS frame divider 1413 of the primary RS encoder 1410will now be described in detail. Also, in order to simplify thedescription of the present invention, it is assumed that an RS framehaving the size of N(row)×187(column), as shown in FIG. 32(a) to FIG.32(c), that P number of parity data bytes are added to each column byRS-encoding the RS frame, and that a 2-byte checksum is added to eachrow by CRC-encoding the RS frame. Accordingly, the RS frame divider 1413divides (or partitions) the encoded RS frame having the size of(N+2)(row)×187(column) into several portions, each having the size of PL(wherein PL corresponds to the length of the RS frame portion).

At this point, as shown in Table 2 to Table 5, the value of PL may varydepending upon the RS frame mode, SCCC block mode, and SCCC outer codermode. Also, the total number of data bytes of the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded RS frame is equal to or smaller than 5×NoG×PL. In this case,the RS frame is divided (or partitioned) into ((5×NoG)−1) number ofportions each having the size of PL and one portion having a size equalto smaller than PL. More specifically, with the exception of the lastportion of the RS frame, each of the remaining portions of the RS framehas an equal size of PL. If the size of the last portion is smaller thanPL, a stuffing byte (or dummy byte) may be inserted in order to fill (orreplace) the lacking number of data bytes, thereby enabling the lastportion of the RS frame to also be equal to PL. Each portion of an RSframe corresponds to the amount of data that are to be SCCC-encoded andmapped into a single data group of a parade.

FIG. 35(a) and FIG. 35(b) respectively illustrate examples of adding Snumber of stuffing bytes, when an RS frame having the size of(N+2)(row)×(187+P)(column) is divided into 5×NoG number of portions,each having the size of PL. More specifically, the RS-encoded andCRC-encoded RS frame, shown in FIG. 35(a), is divided into severalportions, as shown in FIG. 35(b). The number of divided portions at theRS frame is equal to (5×NoG). Particularly, the first ((5×NoG)−1) numberof portions each has the size of PL, and the last portion of the RSframe may be equal to or smaller than PL. If the size of the lastportion is smaller than PL, a stuffing byte (or dummy byte) may beinserted in order to fill (or replace) the lacking number of data bytes,as shown in Equation 5 below, thereby enabling the last portion of theRS frame to also be equal to PL.S=(5×NoG×PL)−((N+2)×(187+P))  Equation 5

Herein, each portion including data having the size of PL passes throughthe output multiplexer 1320 of the MPH frame encoder 1301, which is thenoutputted to the block processor 1302.

At this point, the mapping order of the RS frame portions to a parade ofdata groups in not identical with the group assignment order defined inEquation 1. When given the group positions of a parade in an MPH frame,the SCCC-encoded RS frame portions will be mapped in a time order (i.e.,in a left-to-right direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 23, datagroups of the 2^(nd) parade (Parade #1) are first assigned (orallocated) to the 13^(th) slot (Slot #12) and then assigned to the3^(rd) slot (Slot #2). However, when the data are actually placed in theassigned slots, the data are placed in a time sequence (or time order,i.e., in a left-to-right direction). More specifically, the 1^(st) datagroup of Parade #1 is placed in Slot #2, and the 2^(nd) data group ofParade #1 is placed in Slot #12.

Block Processor

Meanwhile, the block processor 1302 performs an SCCC outer encodingprocess on the output of the MPH frame encoder 1301. More specifically,the block processor 1302 receives the data of each error correctionencoded portion. Then, the block processor 1302 encodes the data onceagain at a coding rate of 1/H (wherein H is an integer equal to orgreater than 2 (i.e., H≧2)), thereby outputting the 1/H-rate encodeddata to the group formatter 1303. According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the input data are encoded either at a coding rate of1/2 (also referred to as “1/2-rate encoding”) or at a coding rate of 1/4(also referred to as “1/4-rate encoding”). The data of each portionoutputted from the MPH frame encoder 1301 may include at least one ofpure mobile broadcast service data, RS parity data, CRC data, andstuffing data. However, in a broader meaning, the data included in eachportion may correspond to data for mobile broadcast services. Therefore,the data included in each portion will all be considered as mobilebroadcast service data and described accordingly.

The group formatter 1303 inserts the mobile broadcast service dataSCCC-outer-encoded and outputted from the block processor 1302 in thecorresponding region within the data group, which is formed inaccordance with a pre-defined rule. Also, in association with the datadeinterleaving process, the group formatter 1303 inserts various placeholders (or known data place holders) in the corresponding region withinthe data group. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 deinterleaves thedata within the data group and the place holders.

According to the present invention, with reference to data after beingdata-interleaved, as shown in FIG. 17, a data groups is configured of 10MPH blocks (B1 to B10) and divided into 4 regions (A, B, C, and D).Also, as shown in FIG. 17, when it is assumed that the data group isdivided into a plurality of hierarchical regions, as described above,the block processor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data,which are to be inserted to each region based upon the characteristic ofeach hierarchical region, at different coding rates. For example, theblock processor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data, whichare to be inserted in region A/B within the corresponding data group, ata coding rate of 1/2. Then, the group formatter 1303 may insert the1/2-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to region A/B. Also, theblock processor 1302 may encode the mobile broadcast service data, whichare to be inserted in region C/D within the corresponding data group, ata coding rate of 1/4 having higher (or stronger) error correctionability than the 1/2-coding rate. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303may insert the 1/2-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to regionC/D. In another example, the block processor 1302 may encode the mobilebroadcast service data, which are to be inserted in region C/D, at acoding rate having higher error correction ability than the 1/4-codingrate. Then, the group formatter 1303 may either insert the encodedmobile broadcast service data to region C/D, as described above, orleave the data in a reserved region for future usage.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the blockprocessor 1302 may perform a 1/H-rate encoding process in SCCC blockunits. Herein, the SCCC block includes at least one MPH block. At thispoint, when 1/H-rate encoding is performed in MPH block units, the MPHblocks (B1 to B10) and the SCCC block (SCB1 to SCB10) become identicalto one another (i.e., SCB1=B1, SCB2=B2, SCB3=B3, SCB4=B4, SCB5=B5,SCB6=B6, SCB7=B7, SCB8=B8, SCB9=B9, and SCB10=B10). For example, the MPHblock 1 (B1) may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/2, the MPH block 2(B2) may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/4, and the MPH block 3 (B3)may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/2. The coding rates are appliedrespectively to the remaining MPH blocks.

Alternatively, a plurality of MPH blocks within regions A, B, C, and Dmay be grouped into one SCCC block, thereby being encoded at a codingrate of 1/H in SCCC block units. Accordingly, the receiving performanceof region C/D may be enhanced. For example, MPH block 1 (B1) to MPHblock 5 (B5) may be grouped into one SCCC block and then encoded at acoding rate of 1/2. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303 may insert the1/2-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to a section startingfrom MPH block 1 (B1) to MPH block 5 (B5). Furthermore, MPH block 6 (B6)to MPH block 10 (B10) may be grouped into one SCCC block and thenencoded at a coding rate of 1/4. Thereafter, the group formatter 1303may insert the 1/4-rate encoded mobile broadcast service data to anothersection starting from MPH block 6 (B6) to MPH block 10 (B10). In thiscase, one data group may consist of two SCCC blocks.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, one SCCC blockmay be formed by grouping two MPH blocks. For example, MPH block 1 (B1)and MPH block 6 (B6) may be grouped into one SCCC block (SCB1).Similarly, MPH block 2 (B2) and MPH block 7 (B7) may be grouped intoanother SCCC block (SCB2). Also, MPH block 3 (B3) and MPH block 8 (B8)may be grouped into another SCCC block (SCB3). And, MPH block 4 (B4) andMPH block 9 (B9) may be grouped into another SCCC block (SCB4).Furthermore, MPH block 5 (B5) and MPH block 10 (B10) may be grouped intoanother SCCC block (SCB5). In the above-described example, the datagroup may consist of 10 MPH blocks and 5 SCCC blocks. Accordingly, in adata (or signal) receiving environment undergoing frequent and severechannel changes, the receiving performance of regions C and D, which isrelatively more deteriorated than the receiving performance of region A,may be reinforced. Furthermore, since the number of mobile broadcastservice data symbols increases more and more from region A to region D,the error correction encoding performance becomes more and moredeteriorated. Therefore, when grouping a plurality of MPH block to formone SCCC block, such deterioration in the error correction encodingperformance may be reduced.

As described-above, when the block processor 1302 performs encoding at a1/H-coding rate, information associated with SCCC should be transmittedto the receiving system in order to accurately recover the mobilebroadcast service data. Table 7 below shows an example of a SCCC blockmode, which indicating the relation between an MPH block and an SCCCblock, among diverse SCCC block information.

TABLE 7 SCCC Block Mode 00 01 10 11 Description One MPH Block Two MPHBlocks per SCCC Block per SCCC Block SCB input, SCB input, SCB MPH BlockMPH Blocks Reserved Reserved SCB1 B1 B1 + B6 SCB2 B2 B2 + B7 SCB3 B3B3 + B8 SCB4 B4 B4 + B9 SCB5 B5  B5 + B10 SCB6 B6 — SCB7 B7 — SCB8 B8 —SCB9 B9 — SCB10  B10 —

More specifically, Table 4 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated inorder to indicate the SCCC block mode. For example, when the SCCC blockmode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that the SCCC block and theMPH block are identical to one another. Also, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘01’, this indicates that each SCCC block isconfigured of 2 MPH blocks.

As described above, if one data group is configured of 2 SCCC blocks,although it is not indicated in Table 7, this information may also beindicated as the SCCC block mode. For example, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘10’, this indicates that each SCCC block isconfigured of 5 MPH blocks and that one data group is configured of 2SCCC blocks. Herein, the number of MPH blocks included in an SCCC blockand the position of each MPH block may vary depending upon the settingsmade by the system designer. Therefore, the present invention will notbe limited to the examples given herein. Accordingly, the SCCC modeinformation may also be expanded.

An example of a coding rate information of the SCCC block, i.e., SCCCouter code mode, is shown in Table 8 below.

TABLE 8 SCCC outer code mode (2 bits) Description 00 Outer code rate ofSCCC block is ½ rate 01 Outer code rate of SCCC block is ¼ rate 10Reserved 11 Reserved

More specifically, Table 8 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated inorder to indicate the coding rate information of the SCCC block. Forexample, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘00’, thisindicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is 1/2.And, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘01’, thisindicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is 1/4.

If the SCCC block mode value of Table 7 indicates ‘00’, the SCCC outercode mode may indicate the coding rate of each MPH block with respect toeach MPH block. In this case, since it is assumed that one data groupincludes 10 MPH blocks and that 2 bits are allocated for each SCCC blockmode, a total of 20 bits are required for indicating the SCCC blockmodes of the 10 MPH modes. In another example, when the SCCC block modevalue of Table 7 indicates ‘00’, the SCCC outer code mode may indicatethe coding rate of each region with respect to each region within thedata group. In this case, since it is assumed that one data groupincludes 4 regions (i.e., regions A, B, C, and D) and that 2 bits areallocated for each SCCC block mode, a total of 8 bits are required forindicating the SCCC block modes of the 4 regions. In another example,when the SCCC block mode value of Table 7 is equal to ‘01’, each of theregions A, B, C, and D within the data group has the same SCCC outercode mode.

Meanwhile, an example of an SCCC output block length (SOBL) for eachSCCC block, when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’, is shown inTable 9 below.

TABLE 9 SIBL SCCC Block SOBL ½ rate ¼ rate SCB1 (B1) 528 264 132 SCB2(B2) 1536 768 384 SCB3 (B3) 2376 1188 594 SCB4 (B4) 2388 1194 597 SCB5(B5) 2772 1386 693 SCB6 (B6) 2472 1236 618 SCB7 (B7) 2772 1386 693 SCB8(B8) 2508 1254 627 SCB9 (B9) 1416 708 354 SCB10 (B10) 480 240 120

More specifically, when given the SCCC output block length (SOBL) foreach SCCC block, an SCCC input block length (SIBL) for eachcorresponding SCCC block may be decided based upon the outer coding rateof each SCCC block. The SOBL is equivalent to the number of SCCC output(or outer-encoded) bytes for each SCCC block. And, the SIBL isequivalent to the number of SCCC input (or payload) bytes for each SCCCblock. Table 10 below shows an example of the SOBL and SIBL for eachSCCC block, when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘01’.

TABLE 10 SIBL SCCC Block SOBL ½ rate ¼ rate SCB1 (B1 + B6) 528 264 132SCB2 (B2 + B7) 1536 768 384 SCB3 (B3 + B8) 2376 1188 594 SCB4 (B4 + B9)2388 1194 597 SCB5 (B5 + B10) 2772 1386 693

In order to do so, as shown in FIG. 36, the block processor 1302includes a RS frame portion-SCCC block converter 1511, a byte-bitconverter 1512, a convolution encoder 1513, a symbol interleaver 1514, asymbol-byte converter 1515, and an SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516.The convolutional encoder 1513 and the symbol interleaver 1514 arevirtually concatenated with the trellis encoding module in thepost-processor in order to configure an SCCC block. More specifically,the RS frame portion-SCCC block converter 1511 divides the RS frameportions, which are being inputted, into multiple SCCC blocks using theSIBL of Table 9 and Table 10 based upon the RS code mode, SCCC blockmode, and SCCC outer code mode. Herein, the MPH frame encoder 1301 mayoutput only primary RS frame portions or both primary RS frame portionsand secondary RS frame portions in accordance with the RS frame mode.

When the RS Frame mode is set to ‘00’, a portion of the primary RS Frameequal to the amount of data, which are to be SCCC outer encoded andmapped to 10 MPH blocks (B1 to B10) of a data group, will be provided tothe block processor 1302. When the SCCC block mode value is equal to‘00’, then the primary RS frame portion will be split into 10 SCCCBlocks according to Table 9. Alternatively, when the SCCC block modevalue is equal to ‘01’, then the primary RS frame will be split into 5SCCC blocks according to Table 10.

When the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, then the block processor1302 may receive two RS frame portions. The RS frame mode value of ‘01’will not be used with the SCCC block mode value of ‘01’. The firstportion from the primary RS frame will be SCCC-outer-encoded as SCCCBlocks SCB3, SCB4, SCB5, SCB6, SCB7, and SCB8 by the block processor1302. The SCCC Blocks SCB3 and SCB8 will be mapped to region B and theSCCC blocks SCB4, SCB5, SCB6, and SCB7 shall be mapped to region A bythe group formatter 1303. The second portion from the secondary RS framewill also be SCCC-outer-encoded, as SCB1, SCB2, SCB9, and SCB10, by theblock processor 1302. The group formatter 1303 will map the SCCC blocksSCB1 and SCB10 to region D as the MPH blocks B1 and B10, respectively.Similarly, the SCCC blocks SCB2 and SCB9 will be mapped to region C asthe MPH blocks B2 and B9.

The byte-bit converter 1512 identifies the mobile broadcast service databytes of each SCCC block outputted from the RS frame portion-SCCC blockconverter 1511 as data bits, which are then outputted to the convolutionencoder 1513. The convolution encoder 1513 performs one of 1/2-rateencoding and 1/4-rate encoding on the inputted mobile broadcast servicedata bits.

FIG. 37 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the convolution encoder1513. The convolution encoder 1513 includes two delay units 1521 and1523 and three adders 1522, 1524, and 1525. Herein, the convolutionencoder 1513 encodes an input data bit U and outputs the coded bit U to5 bits (u0 to u4). At this point, the input data bit U is directlyoutputted as uppermost bit u0 and simultaneously encoded as lower bitu1u2u3u4 and then outputted. More specifically, the input data bit U isdirectly outputted as the uppermost bit u0 and simultaneously outputtedto the first and third adders 1522 and 1525.

The first adder 1522 adds the input data bit U and the output bit of thefirst delay unit 1521 and, then, outputs the added bit to the seconddelay unit 1523. Then, the data bit delayed by a pre-determined time(e.g., by 1 clock) in the second delay unit 1523 is outputted as a lowerbit u1 and simultaneously fed-back to the first delay unit 1521. Thefirst delay unit 1521 delays the data bit fed-back from the second delayunit 1523 by a pre-determined time (e.g., by 1 clock). Then, the firstdelay unit 1521 outputs the delayed data bit as a lower bit u2 and, atthe same time, outputs the fed-back data to the first adder 1522 and thesecond adder 1524. The second adder 1524 adds the data bits outputtedfrom the first and second delay units 1521 and 1523 and outputs theadded data bits as a lower bit u3. The third adder 1525 adds the inputdata bit U and the output of the second delay unit 1523 and outputs theadded data bit as a lower bit u4.

At this point, the first and second delay units 1521 and 1523 are resetto ‘0’, at the starting point of each SCCC block. The convolutionencoder 1513 of FIG. 37 may be used as a 1/2-rate encoder or a 1/4-rateencoder. More specifically, when a portion of the output bit of theconvolution encoder 1513, 10 shown in FIG. 37, is selected andoutputted, the convolution encoder 1513 may be used as one of a 1/2-rateencoder and a 1/4-rate encoder. Table 11 below shown an example ofoutput symbols of the convolution encoder 1513.

TABLE 11 ¼ rate Region ½ rate SCCC block mode = ‘00’ SCCC block mode =‘01’ A, B (u0, u1) (u0, u2), (u1, u3) (u0, u2), (u1, u4) C, D (u0, u1),(u3, u4)

For example, at the 1/2-coding rate, 1 output symbol (i.e., u0 and u1bits) may be selected and outputted. And, at the 1/4-coding rate,depending upon the SCCC block mode, 2 output symbols (i.e., 4 bits) maybe selected and outputted. For example, when the SCCC block mode valueis equal to ‘01’, and when an output symbol configured of u0 and u2 andanother output symbol configured of u1 and u4 are selected andoutputted, a 1/4-rate coding result may be obtained.

The mobile broadcast service data encoded at the coding rate of 1/2 or1/4 by the convolution encoder 1513 are outputted to the symbolinterleaver 1514. The symbol interleaver 1514 performs blockinterleaving, in symbol units, on the output data symbol of theconvolution encoder 1513. More specifically, the symbol interleaver 1514is a type of block interleaver. Any interleaver performing structuralrearrangement (or realignment) may be applied as the symbol interleaver1514 of the block processor. However, in the present invention, avariable length symbol interleaver that can be applied even when aplurality of lengths is provided for the symbol, so that its order maybe rearranged, may also be used.

FIG. 38 illustrates a symbol interleaver according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Particularly, FIG. 38 illustrates an example ofthe symbol interleaver when B=2112 and L=4096. Herein, B indicates ablock length in symbols that are outputted for symbol interleaving fromthe convolution encoder 1513. And, L represents a block length insymbols that are actually interleaved by the symbol interleaver 1514. Atthis point, the block length in symbols B inputted to the symbolinterleaver 1514 is equivalent to 4× SOBL. More specifically, since onesymbol is configured of 2 bits, the value of B may be set to be equal to4× SOBL.

In the present invention, when performing the symbol-intereleavingprocess, the conditions of L=2^(m) (wherein m is an integer) and of L≧Bshould be satisfied. If there is a difference in value between B and L,(L−B) number of null (or dummy) symbols is added, thereby creating aninterleaving pattern, as shown in P′(i) of FIG. 38. Therefore, B becomesa block size of the actual symbols that are inputted to the symbolinterleaver 1514 in order to be interleaved. L becomes an interleavingunit when the interleaving process is performed by an interleavingpattern created from the symbol interleaver 1514.

Equation 6 shown below describes the process of sequentially receiving Bnumber of symbols, the order of which is to be rearranged, and obtainingan L value satisfying the conditions of L=2^(m) (wherein m is aninteger) and of L≧B, thereby creating the interleaving so as to realign(or rearrange) the symbol order.

In relation to all places, wherein 0≦i≦B−1,P′(i)={89×i×(i+1)/2} mod L  Equation 6

Herein, L≧B, L=2^(m), wherein m is an integer.

As shown in P′(i) of FIG. 38, the order of B number of input symbols and(L−B) number of null symbols is rearranged by using the above-mentionedEquation 6. Then, as shown in P(i) of FIG. 38, the null byte places areremoved, so as to rearrange the order. Starting with the lowest value ofi, the P(i) are shifted to the left in order to fill the empty entrylocations. Thereafter, the symbols of the aligned interleaving patternP(i) are outputted to the symbol-byte converter 1515 in order. Herein,the symbol-byte converter 1515 converts to bytes the mobile broadcastservice data symbols, having the rearranging of the symbol ordercompleted and then outputted in accordance with the rearranged order,and thereafter outputs the converted bytes to the SCCC block-MPH blockconverter 1516. The SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516 converts thesymbol-interleaved SCCC blocks to MPH blocks, which are then outputtedto the group formatter 1303.

If the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’, the SCCC block is mappedat a one-to-one (1:1) correspondence with each MPH block within the datagroup. In another example, if the SCCC block mode value is equal to‘01’, each SCCC block is mapped with two MPH blocks within the datagroup. For example, the SCCC block SCB1 is mapped with (B1, B6), theSCCC block SCB2 is mapped with (B2, B7), the SCCC block SCB3 is mappedwith (B3, B8), the SCCC block SCB4 is mapped with (B4, B9), and the SCCCblock SCB5 is mapped with (B5, B10). The MPH block that is outputtedfrom the SCCC block-MPH block converter 1516 is configured of mobilebroadcast service data and FEC redundancy. In the present invention, themobile broadcast service data as well as the FEC redundancy of the MPHblock will be collectively considered as mobile broadcast service data.

Group Formatter

The group formatter 1303 inserts data of MPH blocks outputted from theblock processor 1302 to the corresponding MPH blocks within the datagroup, which is formed in accordance with a pre-defined rule. Also, inassociation with the data-deinterleaving process, the group formatter1303 inserts various place holders (or known data place holders) in thecorresponding region within the data group. More specifically, apartfrom the encoded mobile broadcast service data outputted from the blockprocessor 1302, the group formatter 1303 also inserts MPEG header placeholders, non-systematic RS parity place holders, main broadcast servicedata place holders, which are associated with the data deinterleaving ina later process, as shown in FIG. 17.

Herein, the main broadcast service data place holders are insertedbecause the mobile broadcast service data bytes and the main broadcastservice data bytes are alternately mixed with one another in regions Bto D based upon the input of the data deinterleaver, as shown in FIG.17. For example, based upon the data outputted after datadeinterleaving, the place holder for the MPEG header may be allocated atthe very beginning of each packet. Also, in order to configure anintended group format, dummy bytes may also be inserted. Furthermore,the group formatter 1303 inserts place holders for initializing thetrellis encoding module 1256 in the corresponding regions. For example,the initialization data place holders may be inserted in the beginningof the known data sequence. Additionally, the group formatter 1303 mayalso insert signaling information, which are encoded and outputted fromthe signaling encoder 1304, in corresponding regions within the datagroup. At this point, reference may be made to the signaling informationwhen the group formatter 1303 inserts each data type and respectiveplace holders in the data group. The process of encoding the signalinginformation and inserting the encoded signaling information to the datagroup will be described in detail in a later process.

After inserting each data type and respective place holders in the datagroup, the group formatter 1303 may deinterleave the data and respectiveplace holders, which have been inserted in the data group, as an inverseprocess of the data interleaver, thereby outputting the deinterleaveddata and respective place holders to the packet encoder 1304. Morespecifically, when the data and respective place holders within the datagroup, which is configured (or structured) as shown in FIG. 17, aredeinterleaved by the group formatter 1303 and outputted to the packetencoder 1304, the structure of the data group may be identical to thestructure shown in FIG. 19. In order to do so, the group formatter 1303may include a group format organizer 1527, and a data deinterleaver1529, as shown in FIG. 39. The group format organizer 1527 inserts dataand respective place holders in the corresponding regions within thedata group, as described above. And, the data deinterleaver 1529deinterleaves the inserted data and respective place holders as aninverse process of the data interleaver.

The packet encoder 1304 removes the main broadcast service data placeholders and the RS parity place holders that were allocated for thedeinterleaving process from the deinterleaved data being inputted. Then,the packet encoder 1304 groups the remaining portion and inserts the3-byte MPEG header place holder in an MPEG header having a null packetPID (or an unused PID from the main broadcast service data packet).Furthermore, the packet encoder 1304 adds a synchronization data byte atthe beginning of each 187-byte data packet. Also, when the groupformatter 1303 inserts known data place holders, the packet formatter1303 may insert actual known data in the known data place holders, ormay directly output the known data place holders without anymodification in order to make replacement insertion in a later process.Thereafter, the packet encoder 1304 identifies the data within thepacket-formatted data group, as described above, as a 188-byte unitmobile broadcast service data packet (i.e., MPEG TS packet), which isthen provided to the packet multiplexer 1240.

Based upon the control of the control unit 1205, the packet multiplexer1240 multiplexes the data group packet-formatted and outputted from thepacket formatter 306 and the main broadcast service data packetoutputted from the packet jitter mitigator 1220. Then, the packetmultiplexer 1240 outputs the multiplexed data packets to the datarandomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250. More specifically, thecontrol unit 1205 controls the time-multiplexing of the packetmultiplexer 1240. If the packet multiplexer 1240 receives 118 mobilebroadcast service data packets from the packet encoder 1304, 37 mobilebroadcast service data packets are placed before a place for insertingVSB field synchronization. Then, the remaining 81 mobile broadcastservice data packets are placed after the place for inserting VSB fieldsynchronization. The multiplexing method may be adjusted by diversevariables of the system design. The multiplexing method and multiplexingrule of the packet multiplexer 1240 will be described in more detail ina later process.

Also, since a data group including mobile broadcast service datain-between the data bytes of the main broadcast service data ismultiplexed (or allocated) during the packet multiplexing process, theshifting of the chronological position (or place) of the main broadcastservice data packet becomes relative. Also, a system object decoder(i.e., MPEG decoder) for processing the main broadcast service data ofthe receiving system, receives and decodes only the main broadcastservice data and recognizes the mobile broadcast service data packet asa null data packet.

Therefore, when the system object decoder of the receiving systemreceives a main broadcast service data packet that is multiplexed withthe data group, a packet jitter occurs.

At this point, since a multiple-level buffer for the video data existsin the system object decoder and the size of the buffer is relativelylarge, the packet jitter generated from the packet multiplexer 1240 doesnot cause any serious problem in case of the video data. However, sincethe size of the buffer for the audio data in the object decoder isrelatively small, the packet jitter may cause considerable problem. Morespecifically, due to the packet jitter, an overflow or underflow mayoccur in the buffer for the main broadcast service data of the receivingsystem (e.g., the buffer for the audio data). Therefore, the packetjitter mitigator 1220 re-adjusts the relative position of the mainbroadcast service data packet so that the overflow or underflow does notoccur in the system object decoder.

In the present invention, examples of repositioning places for the audiodata packets within the main broadcast service data in order to minimizethe influence on the operations of the audio buffer will be described indetail. The packet jitter mitigator 1220 repositions the audio datapackets in the main broadcast service data section so that the audiodata packets of the main broadcast service data can be as equally anduniformly aligned and positioned as possible. Additionally, when thepositions of the main broadcast service data packets are relativelyre-adjusted, associated program clock reference (PCR) values may also bemodified accordingly. The PCR value corresponds to a time referencevalue for synchronizing the time of the MPEG decoder. Herein, the PCRvalue is inserted in a specific region of a TS packet and thentransmitted.

In the example of the present invention, the packet jitter mitigator1220 also performs the operation of modifying the PCR value. The outputof the packet jitter mitigator 1220 is inputted to the packetmultiplexer 1240. As described above, the packet multiplexer 1240multiplexes the main broadcast service data packet outputted from thepacket jitter mitigator 1220 with the mobile broadcast service datapacket outputted from the pre-processor 1230 into a burst structure inaccordance with a pre-determined multiplexing rule. Then, the packetmultiplexer 1240 outputs the multiplexed data packets to the datarandomizer 1251 of the post-processor 1250.

If the inputted data correspond to the main broadcast service datapacket, the data randomizer 1251 performs the same randomizing processas that of the conventional randomizer. More specifically, thesynchronization byte within the main broadcast service data packet isdeleted. Then, the remaining 187 data bytes are randomized by using apseudo random byte generated from the data randomizer 1251. Thereafter,the randomized data are outputted to the RS encoder/non-systematic RSencoder 1252.

On the other hand, if the inputted data correspond to the mobilebroadcast service data packet, the data randomizer 1251 may randomizeonly a portion of the data packet. For example, if it is assumed that arandomizing process has already been performed in advance on the mobilebroadcast service data packet by the pre-processor 1230, the datarandomizer 1251 deletes the synchronization byte from the 4-byte MPEGheader included in the mobile broadcast service data packet and, then,performs the randomizing process only on the remaining 3 data bytes ofthe MPEG header. Thereafter, the randomized data bytes are outputted tothe RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252. More specifically, therandomizing process is not performed on the remaining portion of themobile broadcast service data excluding the MPEG header. In other words,the remaining portion of the mobile broadcast service data packet isdirectly outputted to the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252without being randomized. Also, the data randomizer 1251 may or may notperform a randomizing process on the known data (or known data placeholders) and the initialization data place holders included in themobile broadcast service data packet.

The RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252 performs an RS encodingprocess on the data being randomized by the data randomizer 1251 or onthe data bypassing the data randomizer 1251, so as to add 20 bytes of RSparity data. Thereafter, the processed data are outputted to the datainterleaver 1253. Herein, if the inputted data correspond to the mainbroadcast service data packet, the RS encoder/non-systematic RS encoder1252 performs the same systematic RS encoding process as that of theconventional broadcasting system, thereby adding the 20-byte RS paritydata at the end of the 187-byte data. Alternatively, if the inputteddata correspond to the mobile broadcast service data packet, the RSencoder/non-systematic RS encoder 1252 performs a non-systematic RSencoding process. At this point, the 20-byte RS parity data obtainedfrom the non-systematic RS encoding process are inserted in apre-decided parity byte place within the mobile broadcast service datapacket.

The data interleaver 1253 corresponds to a byte unit convolutionalinterleaver. The output of the data interleaver 1253 is inputted to theparity replacer 1254 and to the non-systematic RS encoder 1255.Meanwhile, a process of initializing a memory within the trellisencoding module 1256 is primarily required in order to decide the outputdata of the trellis encoding module 1256, which is located after theparity replacer 1254, as the known data pre-defined according to anagreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system. Morespecifically, the memory of the trellis encoding module 1256 shouldfirst be initialized before the received known data sequence istrellis-encoded. At this point, the beginning portion of the known datasequence that is received corresponds to the initialization data placeholder and not to the actual known data. Herein, the initialization dataplace holder has been included in the data by the group formatter withinthe pre-processor 1230 in an earlier process. Therefore, the process ofgenerating initialization data and replacing the initialization dataplace holder of the corresponding memory with the generatedinitialization data are required to be performed immediately before theinputted known data sequence is trellis-encoded.

Additionally, a value of the trellis memory initialization data isdecided and generated based upon a memory status of the trellis encodingmodule 1256. Further, due to the newly replaced initialization data, aprocess of newly calculating the RS parity and replacing the RS parity,which is outputted from the data interleaver 1253, with the newlycalculated RS parity is required. Therefore, the non-systematic RSencoder 1255 receives the mobile broadcast service data packet includingthe initialization data place holders, which are to be replaced with theactual initialization data, from the data interleaver 1253 and alsoreceives the initialization data from the trellis encoding module 1256.

Among the inputted mobile broadcast service data packet, theinitialization data place holders are replaced with the initializationdata, and the RS parity data that are added to the mobile broadcastservice data packet are removed and processed with non-systematic RSencoding. Thereafter, the new RS parity obtained by performing thenon-systematic RS encoding process is outputted to the parity replacer255. Accordingly, the parity replacer 255 selects the output of the datainterleaver 1253 as the data within the mobile broadcast service datapacket, and the parity replacer 255 selects the output of thenon-systematic RS encoder 1255 as the RS parity. The selected data arethen outputted to the trellis encoding module 1256.

Meanwhile, if the main broadcast service data packet is inputted or ifthe mobile broadcast service data packet, which does not include anyinitialization data place holders that are to be replaced, is inputted,the parity replacer 1254 selects the data and RS parity that areoutputted from the data interleaver 1253. Then, the parity replacer 1254directly outputs the selected data to the trellis encoding module 1256without any modification. The trellis encoding module 1256 converts thebyte-unit data to symbol units and performs a 12-way interleavingprocess so as to trellis-encode the received data. Thereafter, theprocessed data are outputted to the synchronization multiplexer 1260.

FIG. 40 illustrates a detailed diagram of one of 12 trellis encodersincluded in the trellis encoding module 1256. Herein, the trellisencoder includes first and second multiplexers 1531 and 1541, first andsecond adders 1532 and 1542, and first to third memories 1533, 1542, and1544. More specifically, the first to third memories 1533, 1542, and1544 are initialized by a set of trellis initialization data inserted inan initialization data place holder by the parity replacer 1254 and,then, outputted. More specifically, when the first two 2-bit symbols,which are converted from each trellis initialization data byte, areinputted, the input bits of the trellis encoder will be replaced by thememory values of the trellis encoder, as shown in FIG. 40.

Since 2 symbols (i.e., 4 bits) are required for trellis initialization,the last 2 symbols (i.e., 4 bits) from the trellis initialization bytesare not used for trellis initialization and are considered as a symbolfrom a known data byte and processed accordingly. When the trellisencoder is in the initialization mode, the input comes from an internaltrellis status (or state) and not from the parity replacer 1254. Whenthe trellis encoder is in the normal mode, the input symbol providedfrom the parity replacer 1254 will be processed. The trellis encoderprovides the converted (or modified) input data for trellisinitialization to the non-systematic RS encoder 1255.

More specifically, when a selection signal designates a normal mode, thefirst multiplexer 1531 selects an upper bit X2 of the input symbol. And,when a selection signal designates an initialization mode, the firstmultiplexer 1531 selects the output of the first memory 1533 and outputsthe selected output data to the first adder 1532. The first adder 1532adds the output of the first multiplexer 1531 and the output of thefirst memory 1533, thereby outputting the added result to the firstmemory 1533 and, at the same time, as a most significant (or uppermost)bit Z2. The first memory 1533 delays the output data of the first adder1532 by 1 clock, thereby outputting the delayed data to the firstmultiplexer 1531 and the first adder 1532.

Meanwhile, when a selection signal designates a normal mode, the secondmultiplexer 1541 selects a lower bit X1 of the input symbol. And, when aselection signal designates an initialization mode, the secondmultiplexer 1541 selects the output of the second memory 1542, therebyoutputting the selected result to the second adder 1543 and, at the sametime, as a lower bit Z1. The second adder 1543 adds the output of thesecond multiplexer 1541 and the output of the second memory 1542,thereby outputting the added result to the third memory 1544. The thirdmemory 1544 delays the output data of the second adder 1543 by 1 clock,thereby outputting the delayed data to the second memory 1542 and, atthe same time, as a least significant (or lowermost) bit Z0. The secondmemory 1542 delays the output data of the third memory 1544 by 1 clock,thereby outputting the delayed data to the second adder 1543 and thesecond multiplexer 1541.

The synchronization multiplexer 1260 inserts a field synchronizationsignal and a segment synchronization signal to the data outputted fromthe trellis encoding module 1256 and, then, outputs the processed datato the pilot inserter 1271 of the transmission unit 1270. Herein, thedata having a pilot inserted therein by the pilot inserter 1271 aremodulated by the modulator 1272 in accordance with a pre-determinedmodulating method (e.g., a VSB method). Thereafter, the modulated dataare transmitted to each receiving system though the radio frequency (RF)up-converter 1273.

Multiplexing Method of Packet Multiplexer 1240

Data of the error correction encoded and 1/H-rate encoded primary RSframe (i.e., when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’) orprimary/secondary RS frame (i.e., when the RS frame mode value is equalto ‘01’), are divided into a plurality of data groups by the groupformatter 1303. Then, the divided data portions are assigned to at leastone of regions A to D of each data group or to an MPH block among theMPH blocks B1 to B10, thereby being deinterleaved. Then, thedeinterleaved data group passes through the packet encoder 1304, therebybeing multiplexed with the main broadcast service data by the packetmultiplexer 1240 based upon a de-decided multiplexing rule. The packetmultiplexer 1240 multiplexes a plurality of consecutive data groups, sothat the data groups are assigned to be spaced as far apart from oneanother as possible within the sub-frame. For example, when it isassumed that 3 data groups are assigned to a sub-frame, the data groupsare assigned to a 1^(st) slot (Slot #0), a 5^(th) slot (Slot #4), and a9^(th) slot (Slot #8) in the sub-frame, respectively.

As described-above, in the assignment of the plurality of consecutivedata groups, a plurality of parades are multiplexed and outputted so asto be spaced as far apart from one another as possible within a sub-MPHframe. For example, the method of assigning data groups and the methodof assigning parades may be identically applied to all sub-frames foreach MPH frame or differently applied to each MPH frame.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a plurality of data groups included ina single parade, wherein the number of data groups included in asub-frame is equal to ‘3’, and wherein the data groups are assigned toan MPH frame by the packet multiplexer 1240. Referring to FIG. 22, 3data groups are sequentially assigned to a sub-frame at a cycle periodof 4 slots. Accordingly, when this process is equally performed in the 5sub-frames included in the corresponding MPH frame, 15 data groups areassigned to a single MPH frame. Herein, the 15 data groups correspond todata groups included in a parade.

When data groups of a parade are assigned as shown in FIG. 22, thepacket multiplexer 1240 may either assign main broadcast service data toeach data group, or assign data groups corresponding to differentparades between each data group. More specifically, the packetmultiplexer 1240 may assign data groups corresponding to multipleparades to one MPH frame. Basically, the method of assigning data groupscorresponding to multiple parades is very similar to the method ofassigning data groups corresponding to a single parade. In other words,the packet multiplexer 1240 may assign data groups included in otherparades to an MPH frame according to a cycle period of 4 slots. At thispoint, data groups of a different parade may be sequentially assigned tothe respective slots in a circular method. Herein, the data groups areassigned to slots starting from the ones to which data groups of theprevious parade have not yet been assigned. For example, when it isassumed that data groups corresponding to a parade are assigned as shownin FIG. 22, data groups corresponding to the next parade may be assignedto a sub-frame starting either from the 12^(th) slot of a sub-frame.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of assigning and transmitting 3 parades(Parade #0, Parade #1, and Parade #2) to an MPH frame. For example, whenthe 1^(st) parade (Parade #0) includes 3 data groups for each sub-frame,the packet multiplexer 1240 may obtain the positions of each data groupswithin the sub-frames by substituting values ‘0’ to ‘2’ for i inEquation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 1^(st) parade(Parade #0) are sequentially assigned to the 1^(st), 5^(th), and 9^(th)slots (Slot #0, Slot #4, and Slot #8) within the sub-frame. Also, whenthe 2^(nd) parade includes 2 data groups for each sub-frame, the packetmultiplexer 1240 may obtain the positions of each data groups within thesub-frames by substituting values ‘3’ and ‘4’ for i in Equation 1. Morespecifically, the data groups of the 2^(nd) parade (Parade #1) aresequentially assigned to the 2^(nd) and 12^(th) slots (Slot #3 and Slot#11) within the sub-frame. Finally, when the 3^(rd) parade includes 2data groups for each sub-frame, the packet multiplexer 1240 may obtainthe positions of each data groups within the sub-frames by substitutingvalues ‘5’ and ‘6’ for in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groupsof the 3^(rd) parade (Parade #2) are sequentially assigned and outputtedto the 7^(th) and 11^(th) slots (Slot #6 and Slot #10) within thesub-frame.

As described above, the packet multiplexer 1240 may multiplex and outputdata groups of multiple parades to a single MPH frame, and, in eachsub-frame, the multiplexing process of the data groups may be performedserially with a group space of 4 slots from left to right. Therefore, anumber of groups of one parade per sub-frame (NOG) may correspond to anyone integer from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Herein, since one MPH frame includes 5sub-frames, the total number of data groups within a parade that can beallocated to an MPH frame may correspond to any one multiple of ‘5’ranging from ‘5’ to ‘40’.

Processing Signaling Information

The present invention assigns signaling information areas for insertingsignaling information to some areas within each data group. FIG. 41illustrates an example of assigning signaling information areas forinserting signaling information starting from the 1^(st) segment of the4^(th) MPH block (B4) to a portion of the 2^(nd) segment. Morespecifically, 276(=207+69) bytes of the 4^(th) MPH block (B4) in eachdata group are assigned as the signaling information area. In otherwords, the signaling information area consists of 207 bytes of the1^(st) segment and the first 69 bytes of the 2^(nd) segment of the4^(th) MPH block (B4). For example, the 1^(st) segment of the 4^(th) MPHblock (B4) corresponds to the 17^(th) or 173^(rd) segment of a VSBfield. The signaling information that is to be inserted in the signalinginformation area is FEC-encoded by the signaling encoder 1304, therebyinputted to the group formatter 1303.

The group formatter 1303 inserts the signaling information, which isFEC-encoded and outputted by the signaling encoder 1304, in thesignaling information area within the data group. Herein, the signalinginformation may be identified by two different types of signalingchannels: a transmission parameter channel (TPC) and a fast informationchannel (FIC). Herein, the TPC information corresponds to signalinginformation including transmission parameters, such as RSframe-associated information, SCCC-associated information, and MPHframe-associated information. However, the signaling informationpresented herein is merely exemplary. And, since the adding or deletingof signaling information included in the TPC may be easily adjusted andmodified by one skilled in the art, the present invention will,therefore, not be limited to the examples set forth herein. Furthermore,the FIC is provided to enable a fast service acquisition of datareceivers, and the FIC includes cross layer information between thephysical layer and the upper layer(s)

FIG. 42 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the signaling encoder1304 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 42, thesignaling encoder 1304 includes a TPC encoder 1561, an FIC encoder 1562,a block interleaver 1563, a multiplexer 1564, a signaling randomizer1565, and a PCCC encoder 1566. The TPC encoder 1561 receives 10-bytes ofTPC data and performs (18, 10)-RS encoding on the 10-bytes of TPC data,thereby adding 8 bytes of parity data to the 10 bytes of TPC data. The18 bytes of RS-encoded TPC data are outputted to the multiplexer 1564.The FIC encoder 1562 receives 37-bytes of FIC data and performs (51,37)-RS encoding on the 37-bytes of FIC data, thereby adding 14 bytes ofparity data to the 37 bytes of FIC data. Thereafter, the 51 bytes ofRS-encoded FIC data are inputted to the block interleaver 1563, therebybeing interleaved in predetermined block units.

Herein, the block interleaver 1563 corresponds to a variable lengthblock interleaver. The block interleaver 1563 interleaves the FIC datawithin each sub-frame in TNoG (column)×51(row) block units and thenoutputs the interleaved data to the multiplexer 1564. Herein, the TNOGcorresponds to the total number of data groups being assigned to allsub-frames within an MPH frame. The block interleaver 1563 issynchronized with the first set of FIC data in each sub-frame. The blockinterleaver 1563 writes 51 bytes of incoming (or inputted) RS codewordsin a row direction (i.e., row-by-row) and left-to-right and up-to-downdirections and reads 51 bytes of RS codewords in a column direction(i.e., column-by-column) and left-to-right and up-to-down directions,thereby outputting the RS codewords.

The multiplexer 1564 multiplexes the RS-encoded TPC data from the TPCencoder 1561 and the block-interleaved FIC data from the blockinterleaver 1563 along a time axis. Then, the multiplexer 1564 outputs69 bytes of the multiplexed data to the signaling randomizer 1565. Thesignaling randomizer 1565 randomizes the multiplexed data and outputsthe randomized data to the PCCC encoder 1566. The signaling randomizer1565 may use the same generator polynomial of the randomizer used formobile broadcast service data. Also, initialization occurs in each datagroup. The PCCC encoder 1566 corresponds to an inner encoder performingPCCC-encoding on the randomized data (i.e., signaling information data).The PCCC encoder 1566 may include 6 even component encoders and 6 oddcomponent encoders.

FIG. 43 illustrates an example of a syntax structure of TPC data beinginputted to the TPC encoder 1561. The TPC data are inserted in thesignaling information area of each data group and then transmitted. TheTPC data may include a sub-frame_number field, a slot_number field, aparade_id field, a starting_group_number (SGN) field, a number_of_groups(NoG) field, a parade_repetition_cycle (PRC) field, an RS_frame_modefield, an RS_code_mode_primary field, an RS_code_mode_secondary field,an SCCC_block_mode field, an SCCC_outer_code_mode_A field, anSCCC_outer_code_mode_B field, an SCCC_outer_code_mode_C field, anSCCC_outer_code_mode_D field, an FIC_version field, aparade_continuity_counter field, and a TNOG field.

The Sub-Frame_number field corresponds to the current Sub-Frame numberwithin the MPH frame, which is transmitted for MPH framesynchronization. The value of the Sub-Frame_number field may range from0 to 4. The Slot_number field indicates the current slot number withinthe sub-frame, which is transmitted for MPH frame synchronization. Also,the value of the Sub-Frame_number field may range from 0 to 15. TheParade_id field identifies the parade to which this group belongs. Thevalue of this field may be any 7-bit value. Each parade in a MPHtransmission shall have a unique Parade_id field.

Communication of the Parade_id between the physical layer and themanagement layer may be performed by means of an Ensemble_id fieldformed by adding one bit to the left of the Parade_id field. If theEnsemble_id field is used for the primary Ensemble delivered throughthis parade, the added MSB shall be equal to ‘0’. Otherwise, if theEnsemble_id field is used for the secondary ensemble, the added MSBshall be equal to ‘1’. Assignment of the Parade_id field values mayoccur at a convenient level of the system, usually in the managementlayer. The starting_group_number (SGN) field shall be the firstSlot_number for a parade to which this group belongs, as determined byEquation 1 (i.e., after the Slot numbers for all preceding parades havebeen calculated). The SGN and NoG shall be used according to Equation 1to obtain the slot numbers to be allocated to a parade within thesub-frame.

The number_of_Groups (NoG) field shall be the number of groups in asub-frame assigned to the parade to which this group belongs, minus 1,e.g., NoG=0 implies that one group is allocated (or assigned) to thisparade in a sub-frame. The value of NoG may range from 0 to 7. Thislimits the amount of data that a parade may take from the main (legacy)service data, and consequently the maximum data that can be carried byone parade. The slot numbers assigned to the corresponding Parade can becalculated from SGN and NoG, using Equation 1. By taking each parade insequence, the specific slots for each parade will be determined, andconsequently the SGN for each succeeding parade. For example, if for aspecific parade SGN=3 and NoG=3 (010b for 3-bit field of NoG),substituting i=3, 4, and 5 in Equation 1 provides slot numbers 12, 2,and 6. The Parade_repetition_cycle (PRC) field corresponds to the cycletime over which the parade is transmitted, minus 1, specified in unitsof MPH frames, as described in Table 12.

TABLE 12 PRC Description 000 This parade shall be transmitted once everyMPH frame. 001 This parade shall be transmitted once every 2 MPH frames.010 This parade shall be transmitted once every 3 MPH frames. 011 Thisparade shall be transmitted once every 4 MPH frames. 100 This paradeshall be transmitted once every 5 MPH frames. 101 This parade shall betransmitted once every 6 MPH frames. 110 This parade shall betransmitted once every 7 MPH frames. 111 Reserved

The RS_Frame_mode field shall be as defined in Table 1. TheRS_code_mode_primary field shall be the RS code mode for the primary RSframe. Herein, the RS code mode is defined in Table 6. TheRS_code_mode_secondary field shall be the RS code mode for the secondaryRS frame. Herein, the RS code mode is defined in Table 6. TheSCCC_Block_mode field shall be as defined in Table 7. TheSCCC_outer_code_mode_A field corresponds to the SCCC outer code mode forRegion A. The SCCC outer code mode is defined in Table 8. TheSCCC_outer_code_mode_B field corresponds to the SCCC outer code mode forRegion B. The SCCC_outer_code_mode_C field corresponds be the SCCC outercode mode for Region C. And, the SCCC_outer_code_mode_D fieldcorresponds to the SCCC outer code mode for Region D.

The FIC_version field may be supplied by the management layer (whichalso supplies the FIC data). The Parade_continuity_counter field countermay increase from 0 to 15 and then repeat its cycle. This counter shallincrement by 1 every (PRC+1) MPH frames. For example, as shown in Table12, PRC=011 (decimal 3) implies that Parade_continuity_counter increasesevery fourth MPH frame. The TNOG field may be identical for allsub-frames in an MPH Frame. However, the information included in the TPCdata presented herein is merely exemplary. And, since the adding ordeleting of information included in the TPC may be easily adjusted andmodified by one skilled in the art, the present invention will,therefore, not be limited to the examples set forth herein.

Since the TPC parameters (excluding the Sub-Frame_number field and theSlot_number field) for each parade do not change their values during anMPH frame, the same information is repeatedly transmitted through allMPH groups belonging to the corresponding parade during an MPH frame.This allows very robust and reliable reception of the TPC data. Becausethe Sub-Frame_number and the Slot_number are increasing counter values,they also are robust due to the transmission of regularly expectedvalues.

Furthermore, the FIC information is provided to enable a fast serviceacquisition of data receivers, and the FIC information includes crosslayer information between the physical layer and the upper layer(s).

FIG. 44 illustrates an example of a transmission scenario of the TPCdata and the FIC data. The values of the Sub-Frame_number field,Slot_number field, Parade_id field, Parade_repetition_cycle field, andParade_continuity_counter field may corresponds to the current MPH framethroughout the 5 sub-frames within a specific MPH frame. Some of TPCparameters and FIC data are signaled in advance. The SGN, NoG and allFEC modes may have values corresponding to the current MPH frame in thefirst two sub-frames. The SGN, NoG and all FEC modes may have valuescorresponding to the frame in which the parade next appears throughoutthe 3^(rd), 4^(th) and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame. Thisenables the MPH receivers to receive (or acquire) the transmissionparameters in advance very reliably.

For example, when Parade_repetition_cycle=‘000’, the values of the3^(rd), 4^(th), and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH framecorrespond to the next MPH frame. Also, whenParade_repetition_cycle=‘011’, the values of the 3^(rd), 4^(th), and5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame correspond to the 4^(th) MPHframe and beyond. The FIC_version field and the FIC_data field may havevalues that apply to the current MPH Frame during the 1^(st) sub-frameand the 2^(nd) sub-frame, and they shall have values corresponding tothe MPH frame immediately following the current MPH frame during the3^(rd), 4^(th), and 5^(th) sub-frames of the current MPH frame.

Meanwhile, the receiving system may turn the power on only during a slotto which the data group of the designated (or desired) parade isassigned, and the receiving system may turn the power off during theremaining slots, thereby reducing power consumption of the receivingsystem. Such characteristic is particularly useful in portable or mobilereceivers, which require low power consumption. For example, it isassumed that data groups of a 1^(st) parade with NOG=3, a 2^(nd) paradewith NOG=2, and a 3^(rd) parade with NOG=3 are assigned to one MPHframe, as shown in FIG. 45. It is also assumed that the user hasselected a mobile broadcast service included in the 1^(st) parade usingthe keypad provided on the remote controller or terminal. In this case,the receiving system turns the power on only during a slot that datagroups of the ₁ ^(st) parade is assigned, as shown in FIG. 45, and turnsthe power off during the remaining slots, thereby reducing powerconsumption, as described above. At this point, the power is required tobe turned on briefly earlier than the slot to which the actualdesignated data group is assigned (or allocated). This is to enable thetuner or demodulator to converge in advance.

Assignment of Known Data (or Training Signal)

In addition to the payload data, the MPH transmission system insertslong and regularly spaced training sequences into each group. Theregularity is an especially useful feature since it provides thegreatest possible benefit for a given number of training symbols inhigh-Doppler rate conditions. The length of the training sequences isalso chosen to allow fast acquisition of the channel during burstedpower-saving operation of the demodulator. Each group contains 6training sequences. The training sequences are specified beforetrellis-encoding. The training sequences are then trellis-encoded andthese trellis-encoded sequences also are known sequences. This isbecause the trellis encoder memories are initialized to pre-determinedvalues at the beginning of each sequence. The form of the 6 trainingsequences at the byte level (before trellis-encoding) is shown in FIG.46. This is the arrangement of the training sequence at the groupformatter 1303.

The 1^(st) training sequence is located at the last 2 segments of the3^(rd) MPH block (B3). The 2^(nd) training sequence may be inserted atthe 2^(nd) and 3^(rd) segments of the 4^(th) MPH block (B4). The 2^(nd)training sequence is next to the signaling area, as shown in FIG. 17.Then, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th) training sequence, the5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) training sequence may be placedat the last 2 segments of the 4^(th), 5^(th), 6^(th), and 7^(th) MPHblocks (B4, B5, B6, and B7), respectively. As shown in FIG. 46, the1^(st) training sequence, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th)training sequence, the 5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) trainingsequence are spaced 16 segments apart from one another. Referring toFIG. 46, the dotted area indicates trellis initialization data bytes,the lined area indicates training data bytes, and the white areaincludes other bytes such as the FEC-coded MPH service data bytes,FEC-coded signaling data, main broadcast service data bytes, RS paritydata bytes (for backwards compatibility with legacy ATSC receivers)and/or dummy data bytes.

FIG. 47 illustrates the training sequences (at the symbol level) aftertrellis-encoding by the trellis encoder. Referring to FIG. 47, thedotted area indicates data segment sync symbols, the lined areaindicates training data symbols, and the white area includes othersymbols, such as FEC-coded mobile broadcast service data symbols,FEC-coded signaling data, main broadcast service data symbols, RS paritydata symbols (for backwards compatibility with legacy ATSC receivers),dummy data symbols, trellis initialization data symbols, and/or thefirst part of the training sequence data symbols. Due to theintra-segment interleaving of the trellis encoder, various types of datasymbols will be mixed in the white area.

After the trellis-encoding process, the last 1416 (=588+828) symbols ofthe 1^(st) training sequence, the 3^(rd) training sequence, the 4^(th)training sequence, the 5^(th) training sequence, and the 6^(th) trainingsequence commonly share the same data pattern. Including the datasegment synchronization symbols in the middle of and after eachsequence, the total length of each common training pattern is 1424symbols. The 2^(nd) training sequence has a first 528-symbol sequenceand a second 528-symbol sequence that have the same data pattern. Morespecifically, the 528-symbol sequence is repeated after the 4-symboldata segment synchronization signal. At the end of each trainingsequence, the memory contents of the twelve modified trellis encodersshall be set to zero(0).

As described above, the telematics terminal capable of receivingbroadcast data and the method for processing broadcast signals accordingto the present invention have the following advantages. Morespecifically, the telematics terminal capable of receiving broadcastdata and the method for processing broadcast signals are robust (orstrong) against any error that may occur when transmitting mobilebroadcast service data through a channel. And, the present invention isalso highly compatible to the conventional system. Moreover, the presentinvention may also receive the mobile broadcast service data without anyerror occurring, even in channels having severe ghost effect and noise.

Additionally, by receiving a plurality of mobile broadcast servicesusing diversity reception and processing the received mobile broadcastservices, the signal reception strength may be enhanced in the mobilebroadcast service receiving environment (or condition). Furthermore, byinserting known data in a specific position within a data region and bytransmitting the processed data, the receiving performance of areceiving system may be enhanced even in channel environments (orconditions) undergoing frequent channel changes. Finally, the presentinvention is even more effective when applied to mobile and portablereceivers, which are also liable to frequent change in channels, andwhich require strength (or robustness) against intense noise.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A broadcast receiving system comprising: a tunerfor receiving a broadcast signal including a transmission frame, whereina parade of data groups are received during slots within thetransmission frame, the slots being basic time periods for multiplexingof mobile data and main data, wherein the data groups of the parade areassigned to the transmission frame, a total number of the data groupsassigned to the transmission frame being a multiple of five, wherein aplurality of consecutive data groups in the parade are assigned to bespaced apart from one another within the transmission frame, whereineach of the data groups includes the mobile data, a transmissionparameter, known data sequences and a plurality of regions includingdata blocks, wherein a first region of the plurality of regions includesa fourth data block, a fifth data block, a sixth data block and aseventh data block of the data blocks, wherein a second region of theplurality of regions includes a third data block and an eighth datablock of the data blocks, wherein a third region of the plurality ofregions includes a second data block and a ninth data block of the datablocks, wherein a fourth region of the plurality of regions includes afirst data block and a tenth data block of the data blocks, wherein afirst known data sequence of the known data sequences is located in thethird data block of the data blocks, wherein a second known datasequence of the known data sequences and a third known data sequence ofthe known data sequences are located in the fourth data block of thedata blocks, wherein a fourth known data sequence of the known datasequences is located in the fifth data block of the data blocks, whereina fifth known data sequence of the known data sequences is located inthe sixth data block of the data blocks, and wherein a sixth known datasequence of the known data sequences is located in the seventh datablock of the data blocks; a demodulator for demodulating the broadcastsignal; a transmission parameter detector for detecting the transmissionparameter; a block decoder for symbol-decoding the mobile data includedin the received broadcast signal in block units based upon the detectedtransmission parameter; and a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame decoder forbuilding two-dimensional RS frames by gathering RS frame portionsincluding the symbol-decoded mobile data, wherein a size of at least oneof the two-dimensional RS frames is (187+P)×(N+2), wherein P and N areintegers.
 2. The broadcast receiving system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a known sequence detector for detecting at least one knowndata included in the received broadcast signal; and a channel equalizerfor channel-equalizing the received mobile data using the detected atleast one known data.
 3. The broadcast receiving system of claim 1,wherein the RS frame decoder is further for performing cyclic redundancycheck (CRC)-decoding and RS-decoding on the symbol-decoded mobile dataof the two-dimensional RS frames in order to correct errors.
 4. Thebroadcast receiving system of claim 1, further comprising: a powercontroller for controlling power based upon the detected transmissionparameter in order to receive one of the data groups including requestedmobile data.
 5. The broadcast receiving system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a derandomizer for derandomizing the symbol-decoded mobiledata.
 6. A method for processing broadcast signals, the methodcomprising: receiving, at a tuner, a broadcast signal including atransmission frame, wherein a parade of data groups are received duringslots within the transmission frame, the slots being basic time periodsfor multiplexing of mobile data and main data, wherein the data groupsof the parade are assigned to the transmission frame, a total number ofthe data groups assigned to the transmission frame being a multiple offive, wherein a plurality of consecutive data groups in the parade areassigned to be spaced apart from one another within the transmissionframe, wherein each of the data groups includes the mobile data, atransmission parameter, known data sequences and a plurality of regionsincluding data blocks, wherein a first region of the plurality ofregions includes a fourth data block, a fifth data block, a sixth datablock and a seventh data block of the data blocks, wherein a secondregion of the plurality of regions includes a third data block and aneighth data block of the data blocks, wherein a third region of theplurality of regions includes a second data block and a ninth data blockof the data blocks, wherein a fourth region of the plurality of regionsincludes a first data block and a tenth data block of the data blocks,wherein a first known data sequence of the known data sequences islocated in the third data block of the data blocks, wherein a secondknown data sequence of the known data sequences and a third known datasequence of the known data sequences are located in the fourth datablock of the data blocks, wherein a fourth known data sequence of theknown data sequences is located in the fifth data block of the datablocks, wherein a fifth known data sequence of the known data sequencesis located in the sixth data block of the data blocks, and wherein asixth known data sequence of the known data sequences is located in theseventh data block of the data blocks; demodulating the broadcastsignal; detecting the transmission parameter; symbol-decoding the mobiledata included in the received broadcast signal in block units based uponthe detected transmission parameter; and building two-dimensional RSframes by gathering RS frame portions including the symbol-decodedmobile data, wherein a size of at least one of the two-dimensional RSframes is (187+P)×(N+2), wherein P and N are integers.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: detecting at least one known data includedin the received broadcast signal; and channel-equalizing the receivedmobile data using the detected at least one known data.
 8. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: performing cyclic redundancy check(CRC)-decoding and Reed-Solomon (RS)-decoding on the symbol-decodedmobile data of the two-dimensional RS frames in order to correct errors.9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: controlling power basedupon the detected transmission parameter in order to receive one of thedata groups including requested mobile data.
 10. The method of claim 6,further comprising: derandomizing the symbol-decoded mobile data. 11.The broadcast receiving system of claim 1, wherein the transmissionparameter includes a version of fast information channel.
 12. The methodof claim 6, wherein the transmission parameter includes a version offast information channel.